Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter had some tough words for the National Rifle Association’s proposed solution to school shootings, calling NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre’s appeal for armed guards in every school a “completely dumbass idea.” Nutter appeared on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, where he laid into the NRA’s plan.
“I guess, you know, out of last week’s bizarre press statement — it wasn’t a press conference — I guess Mr. [Wayne] LaPierre would then say firefighters need to have armed guards go with them,” Nutter said on Wednesday.” I think it just shows that was a completely dumbass idea from the start with the announcement last week.”
Nutter spoke of the Webster, New York firefighters who were shot down while responding to a fire intentionally set by William Spengler Jr. Two firefighters were killed during the incident, while two others and an off-duty police officer where wounded.
Last Friday LaPierre made suggested that armed guards should be trained and present in America’s schools, comparing the schools to banks and stadiums. The NRA press conference was held in reaction to the shooting in Newtown, Conn., but the organization did not take questions from the media. “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” LaPierre said in defense of the plan.
“We need to ban assault weapons,” Nutter said on Andrea Mitchell Reports. “We need to ban the high-capacity clips and magazines. We need serious background information, system upgrade.”
A member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Nutter has been at odds with the NRA for some time. In 2008, the NRA took legal action to block gun control laws signed by Nutter. On the same day as the NRA’s recent press conference, Mayors Against Illegal Guns released a PSA featuring a number of celebrities, calling for new solutions to gun violence.
