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| Media Gathered at this year's Alabama Bingo Trial |
Wayne Lapierre called a news conference and then didn't hold one.
Instead, he stood before dozens of reporters and a sea of microphones to read a statement, and immediately retreat without answering a single question.
That's not the first time that's happened. Far from it. But after an almost-week long build up, and an invitation to a "news conference" with a promise of making a "meaningful contribution" to ending shootings like Newtown, it was among the most prominent.
It's hard going before the media and answering questions. That's why politicians and corporate executives undergo media training. But if you are just going to read a prepared statement, save everyone the trouble of attending your non-event. Sent a video tape instead. The no-questions event is the refuge of folks who know there's nothing they can say that will put them in a better light.
The Tampa-Bay papers published an article about how the NRA has always responded to previous mass shootings the same day.
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Here's Tim's proposal: from now on, newsrooms should ask specifically if questions will be taken at news conferences. And if the answer is no, then we don't go. Period. Tell 'em to email a statement so we can save the gas and the time.
[The Monday Morning Media Memo is a regular feature of timlennox.com.]
Here's what I heard Mr. LaPierre say:
ReplyDelete1)The NRA wants all laws already on the books upheld, not how it is today.
2)The NRA supports no new gun regulations. See #1 above.
That works for me.
Lapierre and the NRA claim to represent gun owners, but they actually represent gun manufacturers (what? you thought all those billions of dollars for lobbying came from membership dues?). That's why the only answer the NRA can give to any situation is that "We need more guns."
ReplyDeleteOh, and some are even saying we need to arm the teachers! Think back to your school days and the teachers you had - how many of them would you like to see packing heat? I think some of these folks have just been watching too many movies where the good guy takes down the bad guy. Even trained marksmen on the police force will tell you that they are reluctant to fire if there is a crowd of people - there is too great a possibility that bystanders will be hit.
Someone else pointed out this weekend that most deaths from gun violence occur on the streets and in neighborhoods, not in schools. We are seeing 20 kids die every day across the country from gun violence.
And regarding gun laws, from what I have read, the shooters mother in Newton acquired all of her guns strictly within the law. Current laws did not protect those children. There is simple no need for anyone not in the military or not on the police force to carry an automatic assault type weapon. Hunters have no need to mow down herds of deer or elk.
LaPierre is not on my Christmas card list.
ReplyDelete