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THE UNITED STATES’ powerful pro-gun lobbying group, the National Rifle Association, has called for armed police or security guards to be deployed to every school in the country.
“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” declared NRA vice-president Wayne LaPierre, in the group’s first public reaction since last week’s massacre of 26 children and staff in an elementary school.
In a combative statement that was briefly disrupted by two protesters bearing banners accusing the group of having blood on its hands, senior NRA leaders made no concession to calls for greater gun control.
YouTube: WSJDigitalNetwork
Instead, they demanded that schools be immediately given armed protection.
“I call on Congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation,” LaPierre said, in a lengthy statement. He took no questions from reporters.
He said the NRA was ready to help train security teams for schools and work with teachers and parents to improve security measures, and attacked the media and the political class for demonising gun owners.
Last Friday, a troubled 20-year-old man burst into an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut and gunned down 20 six- and seven-year-old children and six staff members trying to protect them, before taking his own life.
The massacre was only the latest in a series of criminal mass shootings in the United States this year, and prompted President Barack Obama to throw his weight behind plans to revive a ban on assault weapons.
But LaPierre insisted that gun ownership was not at the root of the problem, blaming the deaths instead on a lack of armed security and accusing Hollywood movies and video games of celebrating and promoting a culture of violence.
“You know, five years ago after the Virginia Tech tragedy when I said we should put armed security in every school, the media called me crazy,” he said, referring to a 2007 campus shooting that left 32 people dead.
“But what if, what if when Adam Lanza started shooting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday he’d been confronted by qualified armed security?” he demanded.
“Will you at least admit it’s possible that 26 little kids – that 26 innocent lives might have been spared that day? Is it so abhorrent to you that you’d rather continue to risk the alternative?”
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Tough shit, Get over it. Should the cops, coffee sellers and caterers, medics, street cleaners, employees of hundreds of other companies that will be both attending and working at the event itself also be able to choose not to turn up? What drivel.
@Mr Snuffleupagus: and clickbait
All workers are entitled to withdraw their labour as they see fit.
@Benjy Dempsey: The big stars don’t want to touch Trump with a 50 foot pole. It’s telling that performers have to be forced under contract to be in The Donald’s presence.
@Benjy Dempsey: So you think you can tell your boss you’re not going to work for any reason you like then, Benjy? Right so. Saying so, doesn’t make it so. If you don’t do your job, you get sacked. At least, out there in real world.
Yes I am pretty sure you can’t refuse to provide some one service just because you have a prejudice against them.
@benjy are employers entitled to withdraw wor as they see fit?
Benji, Wally, bill… Whatever…. You now saying that ni bakery was right to refuse to bake?
@Mr Snuffleupagus: Another butt-hurt Trump FanBoy.
@Benjy Dempsey:
Of course they can, but if they breach their contract…bye bye or a fine!
Mr Snuffle, ,You might recall the Luas workers withdrew their labour a while back and not only did they not get sacked they won an 18% pay rise.
Thats showbiz baby!
perfectly fitting for a trump event to have women being forced to do things they don’t want to do.
@stopit:
It’s their job, if they don’t like it leave. Funny how “principles” seem to disappear when there is a threat of the money disappearing! Plenty more waiting to join! Imagine if employees decided whom their company could do business with! Sack em and move on!
That’s why we have unions. To keep greedy hogs in their place.
Considering they have performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York since the 1930s, they’re in pretty good shape.
@alphanautica: Great gams, them girls!
They could do a routine from Hamilton. Or dress as cats and when President Elect Tiny Hands goes for a handshake, there’s a ready made “Pussy Grabbing” headline available for publication. I’m sure the Rockettes have had to deal with many letches in their time, but being forced to do it on an official level is creepy.
Trump will be thinking quietly to himself soooo many pussies and I only have two hands
@Tweed Cap: Somehow I can see Alec Baldwin dancing with a Rockettes type lineup on SNL in the coming weeks!
@Daisy Chai NSaw: Have you never heard of what Bill Clinton or JFK got up to in The White House?
@Eamon Mac Gowan: Yes. Does whataboutery make Trump less of a pussy grabber?
@Daisy Chai NSaw:
Says the QUEEN of whataboutery!!!
@Warthog: Your mammy’s calling you for your tea. Run along.
That’s millenials for you. They think their rights are being trampled on if their employer tells them to do something.
It’s a job, get over it. I don’t like Enda much but hey, he was going to be at my child’s school for something, and on that day I still sent him to school.
@The Girl: Umm, terrible comparison that makes no sense whatsoever.
If they don’t want to do it, sack em.
There’s plenty of hot sexy dancers all over America who would love to get that gig.
@Eamon Mac Gowan: as if you’d know, LOL!
Shows the increasingly unpatriotic tendenies of the Left not just in the US but in the West generally.
Incorrect use of the patriotic, Rosa Parks (if that is your real name).
@Rosa Parks: Patriotism is a disease of the mind.
They should honour the president erect
Another pure bs lazy journalism propaganda piece. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
@John Fergus:
Par for the course at this stage.
Actually this has nothing to do with Donald Trump.
The dancers are in dispute with the owners of the outfit.
have your say