NRA Calls for 'Armed Security' Around Schools
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," the NRA's Wayne LaPierre said.
In an amazing Friday morning press 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 press 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.
Many school districts across the nation, including districts 109 and 113 in Deerfield and Highland Park and districts 67 and 115 in Lake Forest, reaffirmed their commitment to safety and crisis plans after the shooting.
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.
Jon Hall
9:53 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
That press conference was embarrassing. If I was a member, I'd want my money back.
Walter White
11:25 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
Dave Greenberg's plan for guns in schools is all coming together.
Bringin' Down Briarwood
1:02 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
That's cool. Let's get some armed security around the schools. In fact, I know of a group that is regularly trained in all communities in firearms and security. Most of us refer to them as the police.
Now, how much of their $200 million in annual revenue is the NRA going to donate to make sure enough cops are hired and trained to provide proper protection for all schools? Obviously, they care so much about the topic that they called a press conference. It wasn't for a self-serving purpose, was it?
I look forward to them stepping up as a leader to drive a real solution.
Richard Heineman
12:14 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
To put police in all of the 130,000 schools would cost between $10 and $20 billion per year. Can the NRA and the gun manufacturers that feed them raise that? In addition at Columbine there were two armed professionals and they were able to do nothing. The NRA's proposals are ludicrous and divorced from reality.
forest barbieri
1:41 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
True confessions:
As a former Army Special Forces Officer I once supported the NRA position. In addition, I was a rather solid Republican. Unfortunately, as the years have passed so has any common sense within both the NRA and Republican Party. Where did all these wacko's come from? Is it possible to send them back?
Do we need to eliminate the ability for American's to possess and hold weapons? Likely not. Do we need to ban assault rifles, semi automatic and the ability for ordinary citizens to buy .50 Caliber weapons wherein, just the bullet flying by your head will kill you.....Yes! Do we need to tighten the steps to purchase and possess light firearms? Yes. Unfortunately, one of the cases for purchasing and holding firearms is all the nuts out there that have or have access to them. (disclosure: all firearms owners are not nuts but the ones that could be do not have signs posted to their foreheads.)
Lou
6:20 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
A partial solution to reduce gun violence: 1. Gun Busters, citizens can report illegal guns for reward, New York has it. One snitch can save lives. 2. Arm limited number of school personnel, principals in Israel pack heat, it's no big thing. 3. Construct each classroom like a bank vault when door is locked. 4. Possessing a clip over 3 rounds a Class 1 Felony. 5. Possessing automatic weapon a Class 1 Felony. 6. Stop and Frisk law, sounds harsh, but it works, no probable cause needed. Videotaping a must on all Stop and Frisk arrests. 7. Parents volunteer to guard all doors at schools. 8.Bring Home our Troops to guard schools. 9. Provide free expert mental health care for all. 10. Make it a felony to allow mentally ill access to guns. 11.Tax gun ownership, 300 million guns @ $ 200 a year, 600 million dollars helps pay for our safety. 12. Mandate that all ammunition must contain chemical for technological air sensing at schools, airports and traffic stops, lack of chemical is a class 1 Felony. 13.Create Homicide Hotline similar to Suicide Hotline. Banning guns won't work, Americans already own 300 million guns, it would be like banning speeding,it's already banned on the Edens.
J.Lyn
7:52 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
NRA= No Rational Altruism
Betsy Brint
10:23 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Humans have life threatening allergies to bullets, they tend to die when they come into contact with them. It's time we take guns and bullets as seriously as we take peanuts.
Peter Lucas
1:15 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
How Ironic this half baked plan was presented on 12 21 12...the end of days is surely near.
Rebecca Gordon
9:23 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
I was speechless watching LaPierre's comments. When will the madness stop?