NRA chief: More laws aren't a solution

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre argued against increasing regulations on gun ownership during the Senate committee hearing on gun violence Wednesday.

"Proposing more gun control laws, while failing to enforce the thousands we already have, is not a serious solution to reducing crime," LaPierre said in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals. Nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families."

LaPierre, whose organization has been on defense in the aftermath of a string of deadly mass shootings across the country in recent months, repeated his call for placing more armed guards in public schools. In December, 20 children and six adults were killed by a single shooter at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. LaPierre argued that similar tragedies could be avoided with more officers on campuses.

"It?s time to throw an immediate blanket of security around our children. About a third of our schools have armed security already because it works," he said. "And that number is growing every day. Right now, state officials, local authorities and school districts in all 50 states are considering their own plans to protect children in their schools."

In response to calls for instituting deeper background checks, LaPierre said gun sellers should be allowed to search for histories of mental illness in gun purchasers, but argued against background checks at gun shows.

"When it comes to the issue of background checks, let?s be honest?background checks will never be 'universal' because criminals will never submit to them," he said.

The hearing started out with a statement from former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who sustained a gunshot to the head in a January 2011 Tucson town hall shooting. Speaking slowly but forcefully, Giffords urged committee members to be "bold" and "courageous" in dealing with gun violence.

"This is an important conversation for our children. For our communities. For Democrats and Republicans. Speaking is difficult, but I need to say something important," Giffords said. "Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold, be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Thank you."

After her brief appearance, Giffords was escorted out of the committee room.

Giffords' husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, then testified, calling for action to increase background checks on gun purchasers and to remove limitations on public health organizations that collect gun violence data. He also urged the enactment of a federal gun trafficking statute that increases penalties on illegal guns purchases.

"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."

Giffords and Kelly founded a nonprofit, Americans for Responsible Solutions, to promote gun reform following the shooting that severely injured Giffords and 12 others, and killed six.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/gabrielle-giffords-expected-speak-senate-gun-violence-hearing-135409533--politics.html

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