NRA Press Conference Announcement; Wayne LaPierre Calls for Armed Guards at Schools
Wayne LaPierre stated a controversial solution to prevent further school shootings during a press conference Friday morning.
The National Rifle Association CEO told the press that every school should have armed security guards to stop incidents like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with gun," LaPierre said, advocating for a stronger security presence in schools.
LaPierre's official statement was the first made by the NRA since the Dec. 14 shooting. The statement was widely anticipated by the public to see what the organization's view would be and if the group would potentially relax their stance on gun rights.
"Politicians pass laws for gun-free school zones," LaPierre said. "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."
The news conference was interrupted twice by anti-gun activists who want bans on weapons that were used at the Newtown, Conn. school shooting which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults.
"But since when did the gun automatically become a bad word?" the NRA chief asked. "A gun in the hands of a Secret Service agent protecting our president isn't a bad word. A gun in the hands of a soldier protecting the United States of America isn't a bad word. And when you hear your glass breaking at 3 a.m. and you call 911, you won't be able to pray hard enough for a gun in the hands of a good guy to get there fast enough to protect you."
The CEO also announced the formation of the National School Shield Emergency Response Program that would help schools prepare for potential threats. LaPierre stated the program would be led by former representative Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., according to USA Today.
LaPierre's words fell in line with gun advocates who say that new legislation to take away guns is not the answer.
The NRA is regarded as a politically strong group advocating gun rights. The organization reportedly has around 4.3 million members.
Read the full transcript of the LaPierre's statement HERE
