The NRA Said What?!

While this is a blog devoted to the courts in this country and the people who make up  the courts in this country — as well as how the law reflects and refracts itself within the context of that — I hope you’ll forgive me for continuing the conversation on guns and posting about the NRA debacle that just went down.

The NRA just wrapped up a “press conference,” wherein Wayne LaPierre said — and I quote –

Politicians pass laws for Gun-Free School Zones. They issue press releases bragging about them. They post signs advertising them.

And in so doing, they tell every insane killer in America that schools are their safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk.

…

There exists in this country a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence against its own people.

Through vicious, violent video games with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat and Splatterhouse. And here’s one: it’s called Kindergarten Killers. It’s been online for 10 years. How come my research department could find it and all of yours either couldn’t or didn’t want anyone to know you had found it?

…

With all the foreign aid, with all the money in the federal budget, we can’t afford to put a police officer in every school?

The internet — in reply — said this –

NRA “shield” plan, if taken at all seriously, means TSA everywhere, forever.

— davidfrum (@davidfrum) December 21, 2012

“You are suggesting we put armed government agents in every school in order to preserve our right to defend ourselves from tyranny?”

— David Ryan (@CaptDavidRyan) December 21, 2012

Just FYI, our violent video games and movies are also widely consumed in Europe, where gun-related homicide rate a fraction of America’s.

— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) December 21, 2012

The surest way to prevent gunmen killing school children is to abolish schools. #NRAideas

— IanVisits (@ianvisits) December 21, 2012

RT @rkref: NRA: Guys, all we need is armed predator drones, landmines under playgrounds, moats filled w/molten lava arnd school perimeters.

— Jodi Jacobson (@jljacobson) December 21, 2012

RT @rosierifka: @joenbc You know who had armed guards? Columbine High school: bit.ly/TGFHUD …

— Don Millard (@OTOOLEFAN) December 21, 2012

maybe we should ban children. that way they won’t get shot.

— brian braiker (@slarkpope) December 21, 2012

The case for hiring more cops is very strong. The case for putting them in elementary schools is not.

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 21, 2012

Former RNC chair Michael Steele calls #NRA statement “very haunting and very disturbing.” bit.ly/WAVeK0 h/t @stacygreen

— Jim Roberts (@nytjim) December 21, 2012

RT @chrismurphyct: Walking out of another funeral and was handed the NRA transcript. The most revolting, tone deaf statement I’ve ever seen.

— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) December 21, 2012

UGH RT @gawker There was a mass shooting incident in Pennsylvania during the NRA press conf abt the need for more guns gaw.kr/y0VOHnm

— Catherine Kustanczy (@catekustanczy) December 21, 2012