A week after the deadly shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn., that left 20 schoolchildren dead, the NRA has broken its silence. Speaking to a roomful of reporters, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre expressed sympathy for the families of the victims—and then proceeded to cast the gun lobby and gun owners as victims of the media.
“Rather than face their own moral failings, the media demonize lawful gun owners, amplify their cries for more laws, and fill the national debate with misinformation and dishonest thinking that only delay meaningful action and all but guarantee that the next atrocity is only a news cycle away,” he said.
He also blamed media conglomerates for creating “blood-soaked” movies and video games that corrupt the culture and sow violence.
But the main point was a call for immediate action to keep children safe by installing armed guards at every school in America. And the NRA wants to help: “The NRA is going to bring all of its knowledge, dedication, and resources to develop a model National School Shield Emergency Response Program for every school that wants it,” LaPierre added.
Not surprisingly, LaPierre didn’t mention anything about who would pay for putting a guard in every school in the country. Nor did he comment on renewed discussions of a possible assault-weapons ban. He also ignored two hecklers who were removed from the event, and he then refused to take questions afterward.
