And here’s the National Rifle Association, stumbling in late and loud:
The NRA previously insisted that gun-buying procedures work just fine as they are:
“The NRA does not want terrorists or dangerous people to have firearms, any suggestion otherwise is offensive and wrong,” said Jennifer Baker, director of public affairs. “Under the current system, law enforcement is notified every time a person on the list attempts to purchase a firearm. Law Enforcement then makes a case by case decision on the appropriate follow-up for each circumstance.
“The NRA’s only objective is to ensure that Americans who are wrongly on the list are afforded their constitutional right to due process. It is appalling that anti-gun politicians are exploiting the Paris terrorist attacks to push their gun-control agenda and distract from President Obama’s failed foreign policy.”
But today, after 136 mass shootings in the first 164 days of the year, after Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in American history, and after reportedly meeting with candidate-shaped suckhole Donald Trump this morning, the NRA has (slightly) changed their tune.
In any case, the NRA doesn’t set legislative policy in this country. They just amply pay the people who do:
The organization has also pretty much single-handedly blocked research into gun violence for 20 years. But yeah: they care deeply about keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Sure.
Update, 2:00 p.m:
And then, just as quickly, the NRA countered the Reuters report and said their stance has not changed:
The new statement is less equivocating than the old one; no “case-by-case basis,” just that terrorists shouldn’t have guns and anyone on the watch list should be “thoroughly investigated” and the sale “delayed while the investigation is ongoing.”
Oh, and this time they added a sentence blaming Obama.
We are happy to meet with Donald Trump. The NRA’s position on this issue has not changed. The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing. If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed. That has been the position of Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.) and a majority of the U.S. Senate. Sadly, President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue.
Trump addresses the National Rifle Association convention Friday, May 20, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Photo via AP