The National Rifle Association is doing all that it can to counter the rising gun-control movement. In a recent op-ed published by Daily Caller titled “Stand and Fight,” NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre targets the fears of Americans as a motivator for gun ownership. He suggests that guns are a necessary tool for survival against terrorists, hurricanes and invading Latino gangs. LaPierre also aims at the Obama administration’s immigration policy, as though civilian gun owners could solve that problem.
“Latin American drug gangs have invaded every city of significant size in the United States,” LaPierre wrote. “Phoenix is already one of the kidnapping capitals of the world, and though the states on the U.S.-Mexico border may be the first places in the nation to suffer from cartel violence, by no means are they the last.”
He went on to accuse the White House of ignoring border security and instead pursuing gun control legislation. The recent gun control movement was sparked by the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in December, in which killer Adam Lanza used an assault weapon to kill 20 children and six adults at the school.
LaPierre claimed that President Obama used the incident to manipulate the public into supporting a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, although the weapons had previously been banned from 1994 to 2004. The NRA has proposed that Congress commission armed guards to defend America’s schools.
In the piece, LaPierre explained the necessity of firearms during natural disasters, describing the condition of New York City during Superstorm Sandy as “hellish.” He raised images of looters in Brooklyn, and the need to carry a gun if traveling at night in the days after the storm.
“Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Riots. Terrorists. Gangs. Lone criminals. These are perils we are sure to face — not just maybe. It’s not paranoia to buy a gun,” LaPierre continued. “It’s survival. It’s responsible behavior, and it’s time we encourage law-abiding Americans to do just that.”
LaPierre’s editorial has garnered criticism for its perceived racial undertones, painting Latin Americans, immigrants and Brooklyn residents as dangerous. Obama campaign strategist David Plouffe dismissed LaPierre’s statements on Twitter, posting “Hard to believe this is real. Every GOPer should read and decide if this delusional person will call the shots.”
