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NRA chief says gun control advocates 'hate freedom' but fails to address child survivors of Florida shooting NRA chief says gun control advocates 'hate freedom' but fails to address child survivors of Florida shooting
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) Wayne LaPierre has said that gun control advocates "hate freedom" but failed to directly address the child victims of the latest mass shooting in Florida who have been so vocal in calling for change in the wake of the tragedy. The head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) Wayne LaPierre has claimed gun control advocates “hate freedom” but failed to directly address the child victims of the latest mass shooting in Florida who have been so vocal in calling for change in the wake of the tragedy.
In a fiery speech that was full of deeply divisive language, Mr LaPierre told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy are eager to blame the NRA and are calling “for even more government control”. In a fiery speech that was full of deeply divisive language, Mr LaPierre told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that Democrats such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy were eager to blame the NRA and were calling “for even more government control”.
He also went after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), mental health laws and "opportunists: who seek to "smear" the NRA, as the leader of America's biggest gun rights lobbying group, Mr La Pierre did not suggest any changes to existing gun laws, despite an increasing outcry over the death of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He also went after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), mental health laws and “opportunists: who seek to “smear” the NRA, as the leader of America’s biggest gun rights lobbying group, Mr La Pierre did not suggest any changes to existing gun laws, despite an increasing outcry over the death of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Relying on the old NRA trope of bemoaning the "elites" who hate the Second Amendment, Mr LaPierre set out a stanch defence of the NRA's position as he played to the conservative crowd. Relying on the old NRA trope of bemoaning the ”elites” who hate the Second Amendment, Mr LaPierre set out a staunch defence of the NRA’s position as he played to the conservative crowd.
"They [the elites] care more about control — and more of it. Their goal is to eliminate the Second Amendment," Mr LaPierre said. “They [the elites] care more about control — and more of it. Their goal is to eliminate the Second Amendment,” Mr LaPierre said.
"Their solution is to make you — all of you — less free. They want to sweep right under the carpet the failure of school security, the failure of family, the failure of America’s mental health system and even the unbelievable failure of the FBI," he added. “Their solution is to make you — all of you — less free. They want to sweep right under the carpet the failure of school security, the failure of family, the failure of America’s mental health system and even the unbelievable failure of the FBI,” he added.
The combative tone for the rhetoric Mr LaPierre used in his speech had been set in an earlier address by NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, who accused Democrats and media outlets of exploiting the Florida shooting for "ratings gold".  The combative tone of the rhetoric Mr LaPierre used in his speech had been set in an earlier address by NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, who accused Democrats and media outlets of exploiting the Florida shooting for “ratings gold”. 
“Many in legacy media love mass shootings, you guys love it,” she said. “Now I'm not saying that you love the tragedy, but I am saying that you love the ratings. Crying white mothers are ratings gold.” “Many in legacy media love mass shootings, you guys love it,” she said. “Now I’m not saying that you love the tragedy, but I am saying that you love the ratings. Crying white mothers are ratings gold.”
Mr LaPierre, appeared on stage in the wake of a ringing endorsement of President Donald Trump, who tweeted just ahead of Mr LaPierre's appearance: “What many people don't understand, or don't want to understand, is that Wayne, Chris and the folks who work so hard at the NRA are Great People and Great American Patriots. They love our Country and will do the right thing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Mr LaPierre appeared on stage in the wake of a ringing endorsement of President Donald Trump, who tweeted just ahead of Mr LaPierre’s appearance: “What many people don’t understand, or don’t want to understand, is that Wayne, Chris and the folks who work so hard at the NRA are Great People and Great American Patriots. They love our Country and will do the right thing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
A day earlier, Mr Trump had met with students and parents from Parkland, along with local officials, in an hour-long “listening session” at the White House. During the event, which included frequently emotional testimony from students who survived the attack but lost friends and classmates, the President said he was interested in the idea of arming teachers as a way of ensuring safety at schools.
He admitted not everyone agreed with the proposal – something that was proven by opponents of the idea, many of them teachers, who said it would add an additional and unfair responsibility for educators.
“That coach was very brave, saved a lot of lives, I suspect,” Mr Trump said, referring to Aaron Feis, a coach at Stoneman Douglas who reportedly died using his body as a shield to protect students.
“But if he had a firearm, he wouldn’t have had to run, he would have shot and that would have been the end of it.”
On Thursday, Mr Trump meet with other officials at the White House as part of what he has insisted is a promise to address gun violence, particularly mass shootings in school.
“I know you’ve been through a lot – most of you have been through a lot more than you ever thought possible,” Mr Trump said. “All I can say is that we’re fighting hard for you, and we will not stop.”