Wayne LaPierre, NRA Leader, Opposes Expanded Background Checks

Wayne LaPierre, NRA Leader, Opposes Expanded Background Checks.

As January comes to a close, there seems to be no resolution or curbing of gun violence in America with more random and calculating shooting happening everyday. The NRA still won’t acknowledge this fact and continues to crusade for themselves I mean the pro-second amendment gun carrying membership. The gun debate will surely go on for a long while and I do not see it ending as long as the NRA has anything to do with it.

In Washington, the chief executive of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, said Wednesday he opposes closing any loophole that requires private sellers to only sell firearms after a background check. This is contradictory to his previous testimony saying that there should be no loopholes no exceptions a criminal background check needs to be done.  Wonder why his tune has changed since 1999? He argues that universal background check would put too much strain on the little guy and that criminal will buy the gun illegally anyway. During the Senate Judiciary Hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the purpose of doing the criminal background check is to prevent criminals from purchasing the guns and addressing LaPierre said,”You missed that point completely!” The audience erupted in cheers as LaPierre argued with Durbin that he has missed the point making the committee Chairman to bang the gavel and call to order. La Pierre believes the current laws are not was is causing the problem, but the weak enforcement of current background checks means it’s a waste of time to expand them to include every gun sale even by the hobbyists and collectors.

 

The comments during the question and answer portion followed a prepared speech by LaPierre given to the committee which is looking to curb gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook Massacre. Also testifying on Wednesday was Mark Kelley, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) who suffered a near fatal gunshot wound in Tuscon in 2011 as well as violence prevention experts. Giffords gave an emotional opening testimony before the committee saying that,”Speaking is difficult but I need to say something important: violence is a problem. Too many children are dying…Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Her husband Mark Kelley called for increase background checks, to remove limitations on collecting gun violence data by health organizations and urged the enactment of federal gun trafficking statue that increases penalties for illegal activity. “Our rights are paramount. But our responsibilities are serious,” Kelly said. “And as a nation we are not taking responsibility for the gun rights our Founding Fathers conferred upon us. Gabby and I are pro-gun ownership. We are anti-gun violence.”