NRA offers solution: Armed guards in every US school

[hulugu]

During a Press Conference this morning, the NRA's Wayne LaPierre blamed violence in the media and video games, but argued that the best way to stop gun violence in schools was armed guards:

From the article:

...“The only way — the only way — to stop a monster from killing our kids is to be personally involved and invested in a plan of absolute protection,” Mr. LaPierre said. “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

Gun-free school zones identified by signs, he said, serve only to “tell every insane killer in America that schools are the safest place to effect maximum mayhem with minimum risk.”

"So why is the idea of a gun good when it’s used to protect the president of our country or our police but bad when it’s used to protect our children in our schools?” he continued. “They’re our kids. They’re our responsibility. And it’s not just our duty to protect them; it’s our right to protect them.”

During the conference, LaPierre argued that video games and violent mass media were to blame:

...And here's another dirty little truth that the media try their best to conceal: 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?

Then there's the blood-soaked slasher films like "American Psycho" and "Natural Born Killers" that are aired like propaganda loops on "Splatterdays" and every day, and a thousand music videos that portray life as a joke and murder as a way of life. And then they have the nerve to call it "entertainment."...

[Roessnakhan]

Funny, other countries have access to the same video games, movies, and music as we do. But they're not shooting up every street corner, school, or mall.

[CalWizrd]

Originally Posted by hulugu

During a Press Conference this morning, the NRA's Wayne LaPierre blamed violence in the media and video games, but argued that the best way to stop gun violence in schools was armed guards:

From the article:


During the conference, LaPierre argued that video games and violent mass media were to blame:

The NRA is a sad bunch. See this previous post of mine...
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...3#post16534643

[Tomorrow]

I'm disappointed that he tried to blame video games and movies - they're no more to blame than the guns themselves.

Too many people are trying to look for a place to lay blame for bad behavior, instead of laying it squarely on the perpetrator where it belongs.

[rdowns]

I watched the so-called press conference with my mouth agape. I didn't expect much different from them but never did I imagine them digging in like they did.

As I said on Twitter, We need guns to protect us from tyranny so let's hire another 200,000 armed government workers.

[citizenzen]

I'm curious how they think we're going to pull that off during a time where local budgets are already stretched too thin and emergency services have seen their share of cuts.

Perhaps if we pulled our troops out of foreign countries we could use them in a capacity of a national guard force in some kind of capacity like that.

[hulugu]

Originally Posted by CalWizrd

The NRA is a sad bunch. See this previous post of mine...
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...3#post16534643

I agree. I was pretty cynical about this press conference, but to see my cynicism confirmed so completely just left me astounded.

As rdowns noted, the NRA's solution is to hire a small army of federally-funded armed guards to protect the right to bear arms in the event of a tyrannical government, which would of course, include those newly hired armed guards.

LaPierre's statement pegged my irony meter.

[Happybunny]

This just get better, you couldn't make this up if you tried.

Do they really think that the American public will go for this idea?

[APlotdevice]

Once again the NRA demonstrates that the only thing they really care about is profit margins.

[glocke12]

and in other news I ponied up the cash to upgrade my yearly membership to a lifetime membership...was simply waiting to see what stance they took before I did that.

ETA: Its not just about video games...it is mental health issues also.

[MacNut]

I was really hoping for some real ideas from the NRA, this was just a joke and not a solution at all.

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by citizenzen

I'm curious how they think we're going to pull that off during a time where local budgets are already stretched too thin and emergency services have seen their share of cuts.

Perhaps if we pulled our troops out of foreign countries we could use them in a capacity of a national guard force in some kind of capacity like that.

We have close to 100,000 schools in the US. Average cop makes $55,000. So you have $5.5 billion plus benefits and other overhead. Figure you need 2 cops per school as most school buildings are open 10 or more hours a day. So you have $11 billion plus about 40% overhead, so it costs us north of $15 billion a year and we've done nothing to address the issue of easy access to guns not to mention the Republicans would probably demand an equal amount of cuts in teachers to pay for it.

I'd also point out that the NRA backed the candidate who told us we don't need more cops.

[CalWizrd]

Originally Posted by hulugu

I agree. I was pretty cynical about this press conference, but to see my cynicism confirmed so completely just left me astounded.

As rdowns noted, the NRA's solution is to hire a small army of federally-funded armed guards to protect the right to bear arms in the event of a tyrannical government, which would of course, include those newly hired armed guards.

LaPierre's statement pegged my irony meter.

I had constructed a fanasyland in my mind thinking that maybe just this one time they would rise above their greed and intransigence and say something that needed to be said.

Silly, naive me.

[Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Happybunny

This just get better, you couldn't make this up if you tried.

Do they really think that the American public will go for this idea?

By and large, enough of us went for it when it was called the TSA and we were talking about airports instead of schools.

[edk99]

Originally Posted by CalWizrd

I had constructed a fanasyland in my mind thinking that maybe just this one time they would rise above their greed and intransigence and say something that needed to be said.

Silly, naive me.

Since guns are not going away what are the options? I would feel much safer at school with an armed guard then a sticker on the door saying gun free zone.

[rmwebs]

Dear god how thick do these people get.

Even a gun advocate would have to admit that the NRA is a train wreck. They completely lost the plot with their statement.

Blaming video games? Really? Bunch of brain dead morons. All the games they listed are available globally. Funny how he failed to mention that small part.

Also, on what planet is it a good idea to have teachers carrying guns around? All it'll take is for 1 teacher to drop it, misplace it, etc and we'll have another bunch of kids being killed - guns have no place being anywhere in public, especially in schools.

[Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by edk99

Since guns are not going away what are the options? I would feel much safer at school with an armed guard then a sticker on the door saying gun free zone.

It could be just as simple as removing the sticker that says "gun free zone."

Placing such a sticker tells a potential terrorist that he won't meet any real resistance. Take away the sticker, and who knows?

[hulugu]

Originally Posted by CalWizrd

I had constructed a fanasyland in my mind thinking that maybe just this one time they would rise above their greed and intransigence and say something that needed to be said.

Silly, naive me.

That's such a bummer really. It confirms something another commentator noted yesterday, the NRA has shifted from the protection average gun owners to a lobbying agency for the gun industry.

Essentially, the NRA pushes the need for guns and against new gun laws, but creates a firewall between the industry and the public that would otherwise make the gun industry appear craven and irresponsible.

Originally Posted by Tomorrow

It could be just as simple as removing the sticker that says "gun free zone."

Placing such a sticker tells a potential terrorist that he won't meet any real resistance. Take away the sticker, and who knows?

I don't buy this argument. By this argument a sticker that says "free fire zone" should be enough of an aegis to protect every household and school in America.

[glocke12]

Originally Posted by rmwebs

Dear god how thick do these people get.

Even a gun advocate would have to admit that the NRA is a train wreck. They completely lost the plot with their statement.

Blaming video games? Really? Bunch of brain dead morons. All the games they listed are available globally. Funny how he failed to mention that small part.

Also, on what planet is it a good idea to have teachers carrying guns around? All it'll take is for 1 teacher to drop it, misplace it, etc and we'll have another bunch of kids being killed - guns have no place being anywhere in public, especially in schools.

video games, mental illness, gun free school zones, are all to blame...

as far as video games go, I find it truly ironic that parents go out of their way to protect kids from pornography, yet allow them access to highly graphic video games..

[CalWizrd]

Originally Posted by edk99

Since guns are not going away what are the options? I would feel much safer at school with an armed guard then a sticker on the door saying gun free zone.

In all honesty, I agree that we are creating a culture that is totally insensitive and almost addicted to violence. Additionally, when I had a Texas CHL I thought it was absurd that I was prevented from carrying in various "gun free" zones, as I had certainly been extensively vetted beforehand.

However, my biggest issue with this morning's press conference wasn't even so much what they said as what they didn't say.

We clearly have a major problem with regard to firearms acces by those who absolutely should never be allowed access. Whether it be the gun show loophole, inadequate storage habits or sloppy/ignored background checking, we definitely need to try to limit the wrong people from acquiring firearms.

On this topic they remain totally silent.

[MacNut]

Originally Posted by glocke12

video games, mental illness, gun free school zones, are all to blame...

as far as video games go, I find it truly ironic that parents go out of their way to protect kids from pornography, yet allow them access to highly graphic video games..

Didn't Tipper Gore try the video game/music argument before.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by glocke12

video games, mental illness, gun free school zones, are all to blame...

as far as video games go, I find it truly ironic that parents go out of their way to protect kids from pornography, yet allow them access to highly graphic video games..

How come all of the other countries that play these same.video.games. don't have the same problem with gun violence as we do?

Could it be because guns are easier to access here?

Our mental health care is a huge part of it. Why don't we take the money it would cost to place an armed officer in every school and put it into our healthcare system?

Another issue is the fact that there aren't enough gun owners being responsible enough to make sure their guns are locked away.

When are we going to stop reacting and start preventing?

The NRA is a joke, and anyone who is a member should be embarrassed.

[hulugu]

Originally Posted by glocke12

...as far as video games go, I find it truly ironic that parents go out of their way to protect kids from pornography, yet allow them access to highly graphic video games..

What happens in your home is your business.

[Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by hulugu

What happens in your home is your business.

Does that include owning guns?

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by CalWizrd

In all honesty, I agree that we are creating a culture that is totally insensitive and almost addicted to violence. Additionally, when I had a Texas CHL I thought it was absurd that I was prevented from carrying in various "gun free" zones, as I had certainly been extensively vetted beforehand.

However, my biggest issue with this morning's press conference wasn't even so much what they said as what they didn't say.

We clearly have a major problem with regard to firearms acces by those who absolutely should never be allowed access. Whether it be the gun show loophole, inadequate storage habits or sloppy/ignored background checking, we definitely need to try to limit the wrong people from acquiring firearms.

On this topic they remain totally silent.

Well said.