Wayne LaPierre, NRA president says gun control 'won't work' (VIDEO)

GlobalPost

Wayne LaPierre, the president of the National Rifle Association, stood firm on the powerful organization's opposition to gun control legislation Sunday.  

“If it’s crazy to call for putting police in and securing our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy,” LaPierre told NBC’s David Gregory on "Meet the Press."

“I think the American people think it’s crazy not to do it. It’s the one thing that would keep people safe and the NRA is going try to do that," he added. 

In the interview, Gregory proposed the idea of regulating high-capacity magazine clips, which were used by the Newtown shooter, to which LaPierre responded: "I don't believe that's going to make one difference," according to the Hollywood Reporter

LaPierre's comments come in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, which left 20 children and six of their teachers dead and has renewed the nationwide conversation about gun violence and mental illness in America.

"I know this town wants to argue about gun control," LaPierre said, according to CNN. "I don't think it will work." 

The NRA was silent for several days following the tragedy, but has since come out in stark contrast to those calling for more comprehensive gun laws and health care for the mentally ill.

Democratic Senator for New York Chuck Schumer, who appeared on "Meet the Press" right after LaPierre, called the NRA leader's views "extreme" and "tone deaf," Business Insider reported

"He blames everything but guns, movies, the media, President Obama, gun-free school zones, you name it, the video games, he blames them," Schumer said. "Now, trying to prevent shootings in schools without talking about guns is like trying to prevent lung cancer without talking about cigarettes. He is so doctrinaire and so adamant that I believe gun owners turn against him as well."

More from GlobalPost: NRA holds press conference on one-week anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting (VIDEO)

[View the story "NRA leader LaPierre on Meet the Press: Gun control 'won't work'" on Storify]


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