As you recall, after the Parkland school shooting in February that killed 17 people including 14 students, the NRA was adamant that schools would be safer if it were staffed with gun-toting faculty members. “To stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun,” is the mantra of NRA CEO Wayne La Pierre. So it’s pretty incredulous that when Mike Pence speaks at the NRA’s forum this weekend, all guns will be banned from the event.
According to Politico:
The NRA posted a disclaimer on the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum event page, saying that due to Pence’s attendance, Secret Service will be responsible for event security. Therefore, “firearms and firearm accessories, knives or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance.”
Needless to say, the Parkland survivors are taken aback.
“The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself,” Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky tweeted.
The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself. pic.twitter.com/6Pw6NTQAe6
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 28, 2018
Others responded to the tweet with the same astonishment over the NRA’s hypocrisy:
Wait wait wait wait wait wait you’re telling me to make the VP safe there aren’t any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere? Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) April 28, 2018
With a convention full of so many “good guys with guns” wouldn’t this be the safest place on earth?
— Peaches #trumpophobe (@fingerbobs) April 28, 2018
The Secret Service is in control of security. The NRA is yeilding to them. That said, the NRA should uninvite Pence. My point being, too bad the NRA isn't as concerned about the safety of students as they are about the Veep's. Longtime former NRA member.
— Ken (@kemios) April 28, 2018
And from one of the victim’s father:
On so many levels, this is enlightening. According to the NRA, we should want everyone to have weapons when we are in public. But when they put on a convention, the weapons are a concern? I thought giving everyone a gun was to enhance safety. Am I missing something? https://t.co/f4wgNhJ7RI
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 28, 2018
According to NRA/Secret Service logic, more guns equals safer schools, but no guns equals safer conventions. Makes about as much sense as everyday politics in America.
Via Sacramento Bee
Image: Gage Skidmore/Flickr