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Chris Murphy Calls NRA Statement 'Revolting'

The U.S. Senator-elect says the NRA has "made itself completely irrelevant to the national conversation about preventing gun violence."


NEWTOWN, CT -- U.S. Senator-elect Chris Murphy, a Congressman whose district includes Newtown, called today's announcement from the National Rifle Association "the most revolting, tone-deaf statement I've ever heard."

"While Newtown continues the horrifying work of burying twenty children and six adults, the NRA has the gall to say that the solution to this problem is more, not fewer guns," he said.

"The NRA has now made itself completely irrelevant to the national conversation about preventing gun violence, by saying that the answer to the tragedy in Newtown is to put more deadly semi-automatic assault weapons on the streets and into our schools."

The NRA statement today — after a weeklong silence following the horrific shooting of 26 people last week in Sandy Hook — called for a surge of gun-carrying "good guys" around American schools.

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for a new kind of American domestic security revolving around armed civilians, arguing that "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

William P. O'Brien December 23, 2012 at 04:42 pm
Joe in Ohio - anyone bent on perpetrating harm on me or my family is going to have a surprise coming. He may get it done but I intend to defend myself and mine, and even you if you are nearby and threatened. While the Newtown tragedy is horrible to contemplate, it is no reason to throw sanity out the window in a rush to help those who would harm others. LaPierre is right, the only thing that will stop a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun, whether that good man is a police officer or armed citizen.
Watts December 23, 2012 at 04:54 pm
And more lying. Putting quotation marks around something that I never said or even alluded to. I don't even own my gun for hunting. I would never kill for sport.
Watts December 23, 2012 at 05:09 pm
Sounds like somebody had a generous amount of fresh cracked paranoia on their dinner salad last night.
Watts December 23, 2012 at 05:11 pm
There wasn't any major news source that hasn't been reporting the Bushmaster rifle since the day following the shooting. But I find it ironic that you are blaming the media for only reporting the two handguns, then immediately below, Gasaway is blaming the media for reporting the Bushmaster and then your very next post was to thank him.
Also, how are you any less anonymous than myself on here? I have been known as Watts for my whole life and for any locals who followed my posts through this event, know that I was a classmate of Dawn (the principle who was murdered in this event) and if anybody really cared, all they would have to do is look up the yearbook and see who Watts is. Your mention that you are from NV is the only thing at all that we know of your identity.
Will Perkins December 23, 2012 at 05:28 pm
Right!!! It is about having the capacity to over throw the government if it becomes too aggregious and does not follow its responsibilities as outlined in the Constitution...duhhh, anyone think they are getting awfully close again, they did in the mid 1800's, but the politicians in the South took a stoopid pill and pissed it all away.
Todays politicians all rely on lawyers and make up news reporters and cases of stoopid pills
Ed December 23, 2012 at 05:34 pm
The NRA is revolting...
BevAG December 23, 2012 at 05:36 pm
Ed
I disagree.
Hannibal Heyes December 23, 2012 at 05:53 pm
The failings of the education system are on full, glorious display all over this board. Sweet Jesus.
Earle R. December 23, 2012 at 05:59 pm
I'd like to know how a retired police officer with a single police-issue revolver is going to stand up to a nut-case armed to the teeth with powerfull semi-automatic assault rifles and handguns
socrates December 23, 2012 at 06:02 pm
There was an armed cop at Columbine. That cop supports putting armed cops in schools. That cop probably saved many lives at Columbine.
Which one of you thinks Columbine would have been better off without an armed cop being there at the time? Blumenthal said a cop did not prevent Columbine from happening. Neither did an assault weapons ban.
BevAG December 23, 2012 at 06:17 pm
Earle, all one can hope for is that a police officer, or some armed citizen, can see the person coming with a gun or hears it and can figure out a way to get behind him to shoot at his head or figure out a way to shoot at his "jewels." (I'm figuring the person is wear gear).
An armed person is someone who goes to the range and is taught as best as possible to "take down" someone. This is ALL better than having a gun-free zone known to every criminal, every mentally ill person so that they can go in and shoot at people like they're fish in a bowl until their energy runs out or they shoot themselves or the SWAT team gets there. Every responsible gun owner knows they need to go to the range and hone their skills and keep themselves abreast of techniques to "take down" a deranged person with a gun.
Tim December 23, 2012 at 06:31 pm
I'm well aware of the process to amend the Constitution. My point is that the gun grabbers don't have nearly the amount of support it would take to garner a 2/3 vote from both Houses of Congress and certainly no where close to the 3/4 of state legislatures necessary to ratify.
Tim December 23, 2012 at 06:35 pm
Marcus, that's the US Senate. Most Representatives do NOT have armed security. Just ask Gabby Giffords.
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 06:51 pm
Socrates then why hasn't Israel had a school shooting since Ma'Alot in 1974.......for the last 38 years ago when they face terrorism Constantly????
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 07:03 pm
All Senators have Security Details? Existentially unlikely.
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 07:07 pm
Socrates then why hasn't Israel had a school shooting since Ma'Alot in 1974.......for the last 38 years when they face terrorism Constantly???? An overarching threat from Hamas & Hezbollah who would love to do this again yet it doesn't happen.
Tim December 23, 2012 at 07:12 pm
Amy, there was no reported connection to the movie theater that the Aurora shooter chose. What was certain, however, it that there were SIX other theaters closer to his home that did NOT prohibit firearms. The one he chose was a "gun free zone" clearly posted with "no firearms" signs.
As for my home being a target, that's pretty doubtful. Even if it got out that I was a gun owner, a criminal breaking into my home would have a hard time finding my weapon considering I carry it on my person, concealed. Since you hate guns so much, why don't you broadcast that your home is a "gun free zone"... perhaps a yard sign on your lawn?
Tim December 23, 2012 at 07:16 pm
Oh, by the way, those cases in point indicate a failure of government, not a failure of law abiding gun owners. So why do you leftists continue to believe that more government is the answer to your problems?
Watts December 23, 2012 at 07:17 pm
Sounds like somebody else just saw Meet The Press. I absolutely agree that the NRA has finally reached the end of the line with how they came out after this event.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/50283353#50283353 Just listen to this LaPierre in his own words. This is the definition of living in oblivion. No rational person can watch him in this interview and think that his fringe thinking represents most Americans' way of thinking.
Truthteller December 23, 2012 at 07:20 pm
MYox your intelligent comment speaks volumes and, falls in line with the majority of Americans. If a referendum were held re: eliminating such weapons of mass murder I'd guarantee it would be successful. The syntax of the majority of these pro-murder weapons available to the general public is commensurate with their authors' ignorance. How unfortunate that such illiteracy and ignorance prevails upon our great country?
Tim December 23, 2012 at 07:24 pm
Oh, just what we need, for every American to give up their liberty so for a little security. Didn't one of our Founding Fathers have a concern about that? We are NOT Israel. We do not need soldiers at our schools. I am all for arming qualified teachers and administrators, not we don't want to become the police state that Israel is.
Tim December 23, 2012 at 07:26 pm
Because Israel is a police state where its citizens do not have individual freedom and liberty. It's interesting that no one carries a gun in Israel without their government knowing about it. No thank you. And it won't be just metal detectors... it will be full body scanners as well. It's bad enough at the airports. We don't need this everywhere we go on a daily basis.
Truthteller December 23, 2012 at 07:29 pm
Cowardly killers like these, who are mentally de-ranged and, apparently seeking to make a "statement" to society because they lack the standard skills to interact, choose a darkened movie theater, or a school with young children because they are, in fact cowards. They do not opt to engage a police station in a shoot-out and most of these psychos ulitmately kill themselves. They should have that right. There is no need for military-style weaponry.
Truthteller December 23, 2012 at 07:34 pm
Marcus, didn't you announce that were making your exit?
You still have that right. The world will still exist. It's okay. Really.
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 07:38 pm
Watts why did then Obama send thousands of the very same weapons he is now trying to ban to Mexico resulting in countless murders? http://abcnews.go.com/politics/t/blogEntry?id=17290752
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 07:39 pm
Truthteller your username is a rank misnomer.
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 07:43 pm
Watts since we can glaringly see how 44 years of federal, state, and municipal gun controls have benefitted the inner cities please tell us how (utilizing your very own logic) we will prevent the next shooting?
Watts December 23, 2012 at 09:02 pm
Here is your ad hominem directed at me, found directly above in this thread:
"6:01 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012 Watts I doubt you even are a gun owner." Here you are accuse me of being a liar with no basis. From just 1 minute later you posted... "6:02 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012 "You can't use it for hunting......why do you need it???" -Watts analysis of the 2nd Amendment." Which is an absolute lie about me, supposedly quoting something that I never said or even insinuated. You can do a search on page through the whole thread or my posting history and not find that quote. On the other hand, I have been 100% honest in what I have posted. And you are completely misusing the term ad hominem. Ad hominem, as even your quote of Hitchens points out, is the faltering to character attack during an engagement about a different subject. But if you go back to my original post directed at you, I was never engaging on any other subject except your character (or lack, there of). That was always the subject for me, it wasn't a faltering from a different subject that I was engaged in. And your lies about me and unsubstantiated accusation that I was a liar, proves my point that you lack the character to properly conduct yourself. As for my points that you created this account as an opportunist to use this tragedy to push an agenda is easily proved by anybody who looks at your posting history. And most would find that to be reprehensible at this time.
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Watts you think the 2nd Amendment is for hunting as do all the other Democrats.
"My guess is that you are probably a paid NRA mouthpiece out here trying to make the counter argument to what most Americans are asking for, but the way that you are doing it is nauseating." So where am I being paid or why would I be? And also Watts if you think the 2nd Amendment isn't for hunting what is it for? lol
Marcus Poulin December 23, 2012 at 11:41 pm
"Yes ladies and gentleman, another nutjob who created a Patch account specifically to spout off some fringe NRA thinking." <----No ad hominem there? You have to use crude terms like "Nut-jobs" to what disparage either us or the mentally ill? Please TELL ME why you must denigrate anyone with that term?

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Thomas Paine June 18, 2013 at 01:47 pm
Why is it the panel for this event does not include a single advocate for gun-owners' rights? WithRead More all due respect to Chief McNamara, why does the panel no include a person who can speak to gun safety from a gun-owning civilian's perspective? ML, you claim that the assembled folks "do not offer judgements about gun ownership" but they are not including a single voice that can offer perspective on gun ownership. I have been to "education" sessions sponsored by Meg's March for Change and they are one-sided indoctrinations into gun control advocacy. >>>> I was in Hartford for the public hearings in January when both Meg and March co-founder Nancy gave their personal testimonies and they all but threatened the legislators on the panel with election day retribution for all those who did not tow the gun-control line of thinking (i.e. March and CAGV). To suggest that Meg "does not offer judgements" is fallacious and disingenuous.
DOR June 19, 2013 at 08:56 am
I'm o n Butterfield. No sightings here. Any specifics as to her location?
Carol Chapman June 19, 2013 at 09:23 am
Norma has been spotted this morning at the intersection of Kenan and Currituck. The red leash isRead More still attached. She was trying to eat a dead squirrel on Currituck. Very skittish, but still in the neighborhood (yay). Please watch for her. My husband and sister-in-law (who first spotted her on Currituck this morning) were unable to get near her. She's in the woods, heading toward Butterfield. Her foster mom is on the scene now. Folks in the neighborhood, please watch for her and call 203-942-4008 if you see her.
Carol Chapman June 19, 2013 at 11:20 am
Carolee Mason (Newtown's Animal Control Officer) is watching her from her car at the moment, armedRead More with catfood to tempt her closer. The foster mom is on her way there again, this time with chicken, and Laura is on her way with hamburger. Problem is, this dog is VERY shy, skittish and quick to run away.
Betsy Kraushaar June 17, 2013 at 07:54 am
If you have goodies left that you are interested in donating to our Girl Scout Troop...pleaseRead More contact me. Our troop has been saving/ fundraising for a senior trip to Europe for the past 5 years. Thanks in advance, Betsy
Llyod Christmas June 17, 2013 at 09:01 pm
Hi Betsy! We have tons of children's books left, and would be more than happy to donate them. HowRead More should I get in touch with you to drop them off?
Betsy Kraushaar June 17, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Lloyd, My email is betsykraushaar@charter.net....I'd love to get some books...Thanks!!!
Every Friday, Rain or Shine, Lone Activist Stands
Elissa Bass June 14, 2013 at 08:44 pm
I do too.
Amy Pare June 16, 2013 at 09:28 am
This is amazing. Where is she standing?