Democrats Slam NRA's Response To School Shooting
The nation's largest gun owners group had said little in the immediate aftermath of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. But the National Rifle Association's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, broke that silence Friday with a call to place armed guards at all of the nation's schools.
The idea was met with immediate criticism from Democrats in Congress.
At a Washington event billed as a news conference — although reporters were denied the opportunity to ask questions — LaPierre expressed the group's horror, outrage and grief at the shootings. Then he said the only way to stop "a monster from killing our kids" was with what he called a plan of absolute protection.
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," he said. "Would you rather have your 911 call bring a good guy with a gun from a mile away or from a minute away?"
The NRA chief's statement was interrupted twice by protesters — including one who said the NRA had blood on its hands.
In response to LaPierre, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein noted that about a third of the nation's schools already have armed guards.
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