Newtown on NRA speech: 'Completely off the mark'

[underpants]

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/

"Completely off the mark," said Paynter, 46, a marketing executive with two children in middle school in Newtown. "There's a need for security systems but not for someone else to have a gun in the school. It's not what you want your kindergartner to see."

Even before the press conference ended, Facebook posts by Newtown residents were starting to appear criticizing the NRA's timing and announcement, she said.
"You can't get any more rude than that," she said. "It's really ugly."


"Folks in Newtown are appalled by that suggestion," said Stout, who owns several hunting rifles. "I understand we want to protect our kids, but there are other ways to do that. We don't want to turn our schools into prisons."

Martin Blanco, 49, a stay-at-home Newtown dad, said the NRA missed a real opportunity to endear residents of Newtown and across the USA with sensible recommendations on gun legislation. Instead, he called their suggestion of putting armed guards in schools "madness."
"Just an awful slap in the face, particularly to the people in Sandy Hook," he said.


Read more: USA Today

[Berlum]

1. The NRA (R) has turned its ass toward America

showing profound disrespect.

[regnaD kciN]

4. I know my opinion may be unpopular here...

...but I'm convinced the N.R.A. wouldn't have taken such a hard line if they hadn't polled their legislative supporters and known already that they had the solid backing to block any moves toward even the slightest amount of gun control.

What we saw today was a victory lap in America's face. That wouldn't have happened if they weren't 100% secure and certain of prevailing.

[underpants]

6. First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius.

First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?
== Hannibal Lecter

The influence of the NRA is the second step. The first step is fund raising. The third step is inflation of size.

The NRA is basically only a fundraising operation. They do have actual programs but for the most part they exist to raise some money and then inflate that money (that they really don't spend) into more influence while using the money to raise more money.

First principles.

[Raster]

7. Thank you, Hannibal. The NRA assumes the position of solidly-backed by it's members....

....because it allows no other position. Even if the rank-and-file were completely aghast and disgusted (which many may well be), LaPiere would still peddle the same twaddle, because that's his job. It won't be a gun pried out of his cold, dead, fingers. It will be his platinum American Express card.

[kelliekat44]

8. It's still all about being against President Obama. The RW will definitely cut off their noses to

bleed on their own chests just to do and say anything they can against the President. They are simply outraged that this black man was elected TWICE!!!

[Tx4obama]

2. The LINK in the OP is no good. Can you please find the article again & post another link? Thanks :)

[Amimnoch]

3. Hmm, and this is a keystone supporter of the "cut government programs" party?

Here's a little math lesson for all of the so-called conservatives that are always screaming for smaller government, and less government spending in the name of sparing proper expenses on their corporate masters:

Number of public schools as of 2009/2010: 98,817 (note this is JUST public grade schools, not private, not universities.

Now take that number, and multiply it by: $40,000 (i'm guessing that would probably be a national average for a licensed, properly trained, and armed security worker.)

Now take that base number and multiply it by an additional $18,000 (average amount for a basic benefits package, and additional employer paid taxes)

There's an additional $5,731,386,000 in Federal spending that will be needed.

Personally, I'm all for government spending on programs that enhances education, but to me the best method would be taking steps to REMOVE the fucking guns in the first place.

[underpants]

5. Good math - the number I saw earlier today was $5.4 Billion

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57560479/nra-guns-in-schools-would-protect-students/

LaPierre called on Congress to put a police officer in every school in America, which according to a Slate analysis would cost the nation at least $5.4 billion.

[NYC Liberal]

9. Actually, they want people to VOLUNTEER for this,

and the NRA wants to be the one training them.

LaPierre announced that former U.S. congressman Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas would lead the NRA's effort to advocate for school security forces. Hutchinson specified that the NRA, with about 4 million members, is calling for volunteers to act as the armed guards, rather than requiring funding from local or federal authorities.

"Whether they're retired police, retired military or rescue personnel, I think there are people in every community in this country who would be happy to serve if only someone asked them and gave them the training and certifications to do so," Hutchinson said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/nra-calls-armed-security-schools-sandy-hook-shooting/story?id=18030799

Not only is the entire idea nonsense, they want people doing what would seemingly be a full-time job for free.

[Raster]

10. They want people to volunteer for free, HOWEVER, the guns will be purchased retail.

Yeah, I got that.

[NYC Liberal]

11. Right-wingers would LOVE to get people to work for free.

[csziggy]

12. Thank you for clarity and math!

If we wanted to go with the NRA suggestion, then I say NRA members should pay for it. Tax ammunition at a rate that would cover those security people. Problem is, there may not actually be enough rounds to do that, unless we taxed them at $10 or more per bullet.

Ammunition trade tops $4 billion yet little regulation to control and keep track of who bullets are sold to
Published: 30 May 2012
Excluding ammunition from new international Arms Trade Treaty would be “totally irrational”

Global sales of ammunition are worth more than $4 billion and are growing at a faster rate than trade in guns, yet there is virtually no regulation in place to control where the bullets end up, according to international agency Oxfam, in a new report today.

<SNIP>

Estimates: 12 billion bullets produced each year

Anna Macdonald, head of arms control campaigning at Oxfam, said: “Guns are useless without bullets; bullets are what turn guns into lethal weapons. It is absolutely essential that the sale of ammunition is included in the treaty and it is far better regulated. It would be totally irrational to leave it out.

“The trade in ammunition is lucrative; but while the monetary cost of production is low, the price paid in human lives for the trade in ammunition is incalculable. An Arms Trade Treaty which doesn’t include the trade in bullets doesn’t make sense.”

Oxfam’s report reveals how poor regulation of the ammunition trade makes it virtually impossible to put an accurate figure on the number of bullets currently being produced and transferred across the world each year, though estimates hover at around the 12 billion mark – enough to kill nearly every man, woman and child on the planet twice.

More: http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2012-05-30/ammunition-trade-4-billion-yet-little-regulation-control-bullets-sold

[geckosfeet]

13. Tone deaf and all - the man is off his rocker. The NRA is in decline and out of step with the world.

I think the armed guards should be around the NRA headquarters.

The world needs to be protected from these madmen.