>LaPierre manages to make logical sense and then dive into political blame shifting in a matter of minutes.
>
>Full Text Here:
>http://o.canada.com/2012/12/21/full-text-of-wayne-lapierres-speech-at-nra-press-conference-on-newtown-massacre/
>
>My Analysis:
>Out of respect for those grieving families, and until the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment. While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectfully silent.
>
>This is a solid opening with which I wholeheartedlty agree, given the gross misreporting of events that not only happened at Newtown but seems to happen with every major tradegy lately.
>
>Here's what I loved:
>Politicians pass laws for Gun-Free School Zones. 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.
>
>How have our nation’s priorities gotten so far out of order? Think about it. We care about our money, so we protect our banks with armed guards. American airports, office buildings, power plants, courthouses — even sports stadiums — are all protected by armed security.
>
>We care about the President, so we protect him with armed Secret Service agents. Members of Congress work in offices surrounded by armed Capitol Police officers.
>
>Yet when it comes to the most beloved, innocent and vulnerable members of the American family — our children — we as a society leave them utterly defenseless, and the monsters and predators of this world know it and exploit it.
>
>I've read a couple pieces recently which relate mass shootings to "gun-free" zones. Here's one example on Aurora:
>So why did the killer pick the Cinemark theater? You might think that it was the one closest to the killer’s apartment. Or, that it was the one with the largest audience.
>
>Yet, neither explanation is right. Instead, out of all the movie theaters within 20 minutes of his apartment showing the new Batman movie that night, it was the only one where guns were banned. In Colorado, individuals with permits can carry concealed handgun in most malls, stores, movie theaters, and restaurants. But private businesses can determine whether permit holders can carry guns on their private property.
>
>Most movie theaters allow permit holders carrying guns. But the Cinemark movie theater was the only one with a sign posted at the theater’s entrance.
>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/10/did-colorado-shooter-single-out-cinemark-theater/
>
>Coulter makes the point more bluntly:
>You will notice that most multiple-victim shootings occur in “gun-free zones” — even within states that have concealed-carry laws: public schools, churches, Sikh temples, post offices, the movie theater where James Holmes committed mass murder, and the Portland, Ore., mall where a nut starting gunning down shoppers a few weeks ago.
>
>Guns were banned in all these places. Mass killers may be crazy, but they’re not stupid.
>http://www.humanevents.com/2012/12/19/ann-coulter-we-know-how-to-stop-school-shootings/
>
>Note: Yes, I realize that citing foxnews and Coulter will immediately turn a lot of people off. Try not shooting the messenger and reading the message.
>
>Also note: While I think that LaPierre is making an excellent point regarding the security of our children v. our money, politicians, etc, I do not agree with having armed guards at all schools.
>
>After starting out so well, LaPierre then joins in the shift the blame game:
>And here’s another dirty little truth that the media try their best to conceal: There exists in this country a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells, and sows, violence against its own people.
>
>Through vicious, violent video games with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat and Splatterhouse.
>
>I said before I wish we had organizations as powerful and effective as the NRA for all our rights, however, they're certainly not above "weasely" lobbiest behavior as Charles recently pointed out.

We're really on the same page with this. LaPierre has always rubbed me the wrong way. Even when he's saying the right thing I know he's not saying it for the right reasons or with any regard to whether or not it is true. I feel that way about lawyers, lobbyists, union officials and "community spokesmen" in general. It starts out as genuine advocacy for people who have not other voice and become a power grab by demagogues and a feathering of the organizational nest.

Coulter has made that point before and though I sometimes have to shake my head and smile at her take-no-prisoners style she really does cut through the bullshit on this one. Bad people - or crazy people - do not color inside the lines.