In a Friday morning news conference, the National Rifle Association broke its weeklong silence following the horrific shooting of 26 people at a school in Newtown, CT, and called for a surge of gun-carrying "good guys" around American schools.
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for a new kind of American domestic security revolving around armed civilians, arguing that "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."
"We care about our president, so we protect him with armed Secret Service agents," LaPierre said. "Members of Congress work in offices surrounded by Capitol Police officers. Yet, when it comes to our most beloved, innocent, and vulnerable members of the American family, our children, we as a society leave them every day utterly defenseless, and the monsters and the predators of the world know it, and exploit it."
LaPierre's speech was a call to supporters to mobilize around a new vision of American domestic security, at a time when voices for gun control are steadily rising. On Friday morning before the news conference, President Obama released a video (above) citing a petition by hundreds of Americans calling for swift action.
At the grassroots level, groups like Newtown United, a group of Newtown neighbors, are working to address major issues related to the tragedy, including gun control, violent media, mental health and legislation.
In stark contrast, LaPierre called for a great mobilization of gun-carrying "good guys," a term he used repeatedly but did not define, who could be more present and respond more quickly than police.
"If we truly cherish our kids, more than our money, more than our celebrities, more than our sports stadiums, we must give them the greatest level of protection possible," LaPierre said. "And that security is only available with properly trained, armed 'good guys'."
LaPierre, who was interrupted twice by protesters who held signs in front of TV cameras, made a direct call for local action.
"I call on every parent. I call on every teacher. I call on every school administrator, every law enforcement officer in this country, to join with us and help create a national schools shield safety program to protect our children with the only positive line of defense that’s tested and proven to work," he said.
In his speech, LaPierre also accused the media of selling "violence against its own people" through violent video games, music videos and "blood-soaked" films. He did not take questions from reporters, and did not acknowledge the protesters.
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D), who represents Kirkland in Washington's new First Congressional District, tweeted: "Disappointed by NRA’s comments today. Guns do not have a place in our schools."
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What do you think about the NRA's call? Please tell us in the comments box below.
Russ make a good point about the Second Amendment. The original intent of the Second Amendment was to give the people the means to overthrow a tyranical government. Maybe we should be more like the Swiss and require everyone who is elgible to vote to have a weapon.
People kill people, however people with GUNS, kill LOTS of people. The Constitution was written over 200 years ago when everyone already carried guns and many households had fathers and sons who had fought with the militia in the War for Independance from Great Britain. At that time there was a reason to bear arms. In the 235 years since that time, hopefully, most people have "evolved intellectually" to a higher level. Most of us have become more civilized. Sadly, some of us have not. Since that time, transportation has gone from the horse and buggy, to the luxury SUV and Boeing Dreamliner. Medicine has gone from "bite the bullet and amputate the leg", to miraculous cures for cancer and vital organ transplants and brain surgeries. Why have guns, and the need for guns, and attitudes about guns, not changed for some individuals in two and a half centuries? The idea that teachers in schools, and the door greeter at Costco, and the girl behind the cosmetics counter at the mall etc..... should all carry a loaded gun is.....IDIOTIC. This would only lead to more gun violence..........not less. We cannot allow the NRA, gun lobbyists in Washington DC, or any other paranoid, simple-minded individuals or groups who think its still 1776 to reverse our progress as a society. Lets not go Backwards people...... More guns is NOT the answer! We need to move FORWARD, towards a better way.
The Constitution has blessed us with more rights than any other document in human history. With those rights come a responsibility. Too often, it seems, people try to give up responsibility by limiting their rights. It does not work. We cannot just let someone else do it. An armed citizenry causes every criminal to think twice about committing a crime, and if not prevent the crime, stop or minimize the carnage. Everyone has to decide if being armed is right for them. It is not an easy, or should it be, an easy decision. It requires one to ask, "Am I willing and able to make a life or death decision for the good of my fellow citizens". The more citizens that can answer "yes" that question, the safer and better off we will all be.
You could have been the Sherrif (good guy), and you could have triumphed over evil (shoot all the bad guys)........ YOU are the paranoid, simple-minded individual who has not evolved intellectually and thinks its still 1776 that I was referring to above. And if you want to talk about our Constitutional Rights, what about the Rights of of the 26 innocent people slaughtered last week by another idiot with a gun? Does your precious Constitution give them a Right to a long life without being shot to death? And if you personally want to live somewhere that every person is carrying a gun, might I suggest that you rush right down and enlist in the Army or Marines, and get over to Afghanistan ASAP. That is the place for you to "live the dream". Ask them to put you right up front when you go out on patrol....... I feel safer already.