This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43158994

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
NRA's Wayne LaPierre echoes Trump's plan to arm teachers NRA head: Gun control advocates 'exploiting' Florida tragedy
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) has backed President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers trained to carry concealed guns. The head of the most powerful gun lobby in the US has blamed Democrats and media for "exploiting" a school shooting that left 17 people dead.
Wayne LaPierre made the remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) following a school shooting that left 17 people dead. Wayne LaPierre said "opportunists" are using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights.
"We must immediately harden our schools," he said. Mr LaPierre's comments came during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.
Mr Trump had suggested arming teachers during a listening session on Wednesday and tweeted about it before the speech. He also echoed President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers who have been trained to carry concealed weapons.
Mr Trump also said on Thursday he would push for national background checks for persons with mental health issues, which Mr LaPierre later echoed at the conference. "As usual, the opportunists waited not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain," said Mr LaPierre, who is the executive director and CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
"No one on the prohibited persons list should ever have access to a firearm. No killer. No felon. No drug dealer. And anyone adjudicated as mentally incompetent or dangerous to society should be prevented from getting a gun," Mr LaPierre said. "They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said, referring to the second amendment to the US constitution, which governs the "right to keep and bear arms".
The annual conference comes a week after alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. His comments were the powerful gun lobby's first more than a week after an alleged gunman opened fire on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and killed 17 people.
Survivors of the deadly shooting have renewed calls for stricter gun laws, prompting the activist movement #NeverAgain. Mr LaPierre lambasted the FBI for failing to follow up on a tip about the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, before the attack.
Mr LaPierre blamed the FBI for failing to follow up on a tip about Mr Cruz before the 14 February attack as well as "European-style socialists" in the US who are calling for more gun control. He also criticised America's "European-style socialists" who are calling for more gun control.
"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said. "They don't care if their laws work or not," Mr LaPierre. "They just want to get more laws to get more control over people. But the NRA, the NRA does care."
Survivors of last week's deadly shooting have renewed calls for stricter gun laws, prompting the nationwide activist movement #NeverAgain.
Mr LaPierre condemned Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chris Murphy, saying they were "eager to smear" the NRA and blame the organisation for country's mass shootings.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer hit back at the group on Twitter.
Mr LaPierre also voiced the NRA's support for Mr Trump's suggestion to arm teachers.
He said the NRA would help any US school with their safety and security, free of charge.
He added that as "gun-free zones", schools are easy targets for shooters, suggesting that they would be better equipped if teachers were armed.He added that as "gun-free zones", schools are easy targets for shooters, suggesting that they would be better equipped if teachers were armed.
"Evil walks among us and God help us if we don't harden our schools and protect our kids," Mr LaPierre said."Evil walks among us and God help us if we don't harden our schools and protect our kids," Mr LaPierre said.
Reshaping the new gun debateReshaping the new gun debate
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, WashingtonAnalysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
On the first day of CPAC, the NRA had an uninterrupted hour to offer its response to Parkland - and respond it did. In a one-two punch, Dana Loesch and Wayne LaPierre launched a blistering attack again the mainstream media, the FBI and pro-gun-control Democratic politicians.On the first day of CPAC, the NRA had an uninterrupted hour to offer its response to Parkland - and respond it did. In a one-two punch, Dana Loesch and Wayne LaPierre launched a blistering attack again the mainstream media, the FBI and pro-gun-control Democratic politicians.
The media "love mass shootings" because of the ratings, Ms Loesch said. The FBI rank-and-file should rise up against a "corrupt" senior staff that has failed to stop mass shooters, Mr LaPierre railed. Democrats, he said, "hate individual freedom".The media "love mass shootings" because of the ratings, Ms Loesch said. The FBI rank-and-file should rise up against a "corrupt" senior staff that has failed to stop mass shooters, Mr LaPierre railed. Democrats, he said, "hate individual freedom".
The rhetoric may be an effort to reshape a firearm debate that, over the past week, has shifting toward calls for bans on so-called assault weapons and the emergence of Parkland students seeking action on gun-control.The rhetoric may be an effort to reshape a firearm debate that, over the past week, has shifting toward calls for bans on so-called assault weapons and the emergence of Parkland students seeking action on gun-control.
The NRA would prefer this to be a conversation about media bias, "European socialist" Democrats and an FBI that has lately become a conservative bogeyman.The NRA would prefer this to be a conversation about media bias, "European socialist" Democrats and an FBI that has lately become a conservative bogeyman.
When it comes to policy proposals, turning schools into "hard targets" with armed teachers and airtight security is the preferred option.When it comes to policy proposals, turning schools into "hard targets" with armed teachers and airtight security is the preferred option.
The NRA has a vast political war chest and a president who views it as a loyal ally. It has been down this road before - after Columbine, Newtown and other school shootings. The NRA's work is just beginning.The NRA has a vast political war chest and a president who views it as a loyal ally. It has been down this road before - after Columbine, Newtown and other school shootings. The NRA's work is just beginning.
With growing pressure to tackle gun control, Mr Trump hosted families of victims and survivors of mass shootings at the White House on Wednesday. Mr Trump's suggestion to arm teachers was voiced during a listening session on Wednesday at the White House. He elaborated on the idea in a series of tweets shortly before Mr LaPierre's speech on Thursday.
"If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms," he said, "they could very well end the attack very quickly." During a meeting to discuss school safety at the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump said that he had spoken to the NRA often in the past two days, and that he told them "we need to toughen up some rules".
Shortly before Mr LaPierre spoke, the president tweeted his support for the NRA. Mr Trump also said on Thursday he would push for national background checks for persons with mental health issues, which Mr LaPierre later echoed at the conference.
"No one on the prohibited persons list should ever have access to a firearm. No killer. No felon. No drug dealer. And anyone adjudicated as mentally incompetent or dangerous to society should be prevented from getting a gun," Mr LaPierre said.