National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre renewed his call Thursday for armed guards in schools and urged gun owners to “stand and fight” for the Second Amendment.
In a speech billed as the NRA response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union call for new gun regulations, LaPierre told the National Wild Turkey Federation in Nashville that the speech didn’t mention school security.
Obama on Tuesday asked Congress for background checks for all firearms purchases and bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
LaPierre said the real intention is to “ban every gun they can, tax every gun sold and register every gun owner.”
George Thornton, the CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation, said his group agrees with LaPierre’s positions, even though not all of the gun-control proposals would directly affect hunters.
“You really don’t need large clips for hunting,” he said. “However, I have a very strong belief when you start to limit things, that the limits continue to chip away.”
LaPierre also said a universal background check would not stop criminals or the mentally ill from getting firearms.
“Even when prohibited people are flagged by the system now, they are almost never stopped,” he said.
Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011, said in a statement that background checks are a simple and fair way to keep children safe.
“If a dangerous criminal can’t buy a gun in a store, they shouldn’t be able to buy a gun at a gun show or on the Internet,” he said. “That’s just common sense.”
(AP)
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3 Responses
Why can’t some increased security at schools be included as part of a comprehensive program which might also include background checks and reasonable limits on certain types of weapons. Most schools still lack the type of secured entry systems which are used at many locations to isolate a visitor untl their is a positive ID by school authorities. The NRA could become part of the solution rather than ranting against ANY proposal that goes beyond armed guards at schools.
gun control has worked out well for us in the past. GREAT idea.
How many children are killed or wounded each year by armed intruders into their schools? And how many are wounded by sexual abusers in their schools? When we can answer that, we can start thinking soundly about allocating scarce educational resources between gun violence and sexual abuse. It’s not easy, and it’s not pretty, but it is essential.