NY TIMES
After a weeklong silence, the National Rifle Association announced Friday that it wants to arm security officers at every school in the country. It pointed the finger at violent video games, the news media and lax law enforcement — not guns — as culprits in the recent rash of mass shootings.
“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” Wayne LaPierre, [above] the N.R.A. vice president, said at a media event that was interrupted by protesters. One held up a banner saying, “N.R.A. Killing Our Kids.”
The N.R.A.’s plan for countering school shootings was met with widespread derision from school administrators, law enforcement officials and politicians, with some critics calling it “delusional” and “paranoid.” Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican, said arming schools would not make them safer.
Even conservative politicians who had voiced support this week for arming more school officers did not rush to embrace the N.R.A.’s plan.Their reluctance was an indication of just how toxic the gun debate has become after the Connecticut shootings, as gun control advocates push for tougher restrictions.
Nationwide, at least 23,000 schools — about one-third of all public schools — already had armed security on staff as of the most recent data, for the 2009-10 school year, and a number of states and districts that do not use them have begun discussing the idea in recent days.
Even so, the N. R. A’s focus on armed guards as its prime solution to school shootings — and the group’s offer to help develop and carry out such a program nationwide — rankled a number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
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Majority back major gun legislation:
Another national poll shows rising support for gun control. Fifty-two percent of Americans support major gun legislation, including and up to an outright ban, according to a new poll from CNN and Opinion Research.
The poll shows 37 percent support “major restrictions” and 15 percent prefer an outright ban. On the other side, 33 percent say there should be minor restrictions and 13 percent say there should be none.
A very strong majority — 62 percent — approve of a ban on semi-automatic assault guns and high-capacity ammunition clips, which Senate Democrats are pushing, but another majority — 52 percent — says people should not be prevented from buying multiple guns.
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But, despite what it may seem like on Twitter or in the media, most Americans still have a fondness for the National Rifle Association. According to a Gallup poll released Thursday, 54 percent of participants have a favorable opinion of the recently scandal-ridden gun lobby, while 38 percent view them unfavorably. The time period in which the poll was conducted includes NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre’s speech advocating the stationing of armed guards at each school in America.
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Majority back major gun legislation:
Another national poll shows rising support for gun control. Fifty-two percent of Americans support major gun legislation, including and up to an outright ban, according to a new poll from CNN and Opinion Research.
The poll shows 37 percent support “major restrictions” and 15 percent prefer an outright ban. On the other side, 33 percent say there should be minor restrictions and 13 percent say there should be none.
A very strong majority — 62 percent — approve of a ban on semi-automatic assault guns and high-capacity ammunition clips, which Senate Democrats are pushing, but another majority — 52 percent — says people should not be prevented from buying multiple guns.
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But, despite what it may seem like on Twitter or in the media, most Americans still have a fondness for the National Rifle Association. According to a Gallup poll released Thursday, 54 percent of participants have a favorable opinion of the recently scandal-ridden gun lobby, while 38 percent view them unfavorably. The time period in which the poll was conducted includes NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre’s speech advocating the stationing of armed guards at each school in America.