We knew that when President Obama announced a package of executive actions to confront gun violence, the National Rifle Association would go into a conniption fit. However, the NRA’s official response is patently offensive, even by NRA standards. Apparently Wayne LaPierre and friends don’t think Obama should have played host to victims and survivors of gun violence at the White House.
Right-wing talk show host and NRA life member Dana Loesch lashed out at Obama in an official NRA commentary video. Watch here.
Loesch–and presumably, the NRA–thundered that Obama had no business inviting victims of gun violence when he announced his package of executive orders. Why?
“The problem is he is dishonest. He stood in front of the wrong people. He pledges to help those affected by illegally possessed and used firearms, but actions speak louder than words. If the president wanted to stand in front of a group of people so as to claim that he is helping them, he should surround himself with — and stand in front of — the groups he is really helping: gang members, felons, and repeat offenders.”
Loesch then rails against Obama for not enforcing the gun laws already on the books, releasing felons early who committed crimes with “illegally purchased guns,” as well as for appointing judges who give “wrist slaps” for gun offenses, such as straw purchases. She then tries to turn one of the gun control movement’s slogans back on Obama.
“He said it before–that phrase, ‘Not one more.’ Well, we say ‘Not one more.’ Not one more felon helped. Not one more gang-banger enabled. Not one more prosecution abandoned. And not one more sentence reduced. Not one more jail term decreased to probation. And not one more right or ability taken away from innocent Americans.”
There is so much wrong in this screed that I don’t even know where to start. For the NRA to even suggest that victims of gun violence had no business at the White House that day is beyond the pale. It’s not the first time Loesch has stuck her foot deep in her mouth. She once applauded a Marine detachment who peed on the corpses of Taliban fighters, saying she’d “drop trou and do it too.” Believe it or not, Loesch used to be a Democrat before 9-11. Sounds like her morph was total–and opportunistic as all hell. But even without that to consider, virtually nothing in this video withstands even cursory analysis.
Obama’s moves were intended to close loopholes in our gun laws that were blown open by none other than the NRA. Those illegally purchased guns Loesch railed about? Well, a good number of those guns are on the streets because of the gun show loophole. Many others come into states with strict gun laws from states with more lenient gun laws–the so-called “Iron Pipeline.” However, those loopholes are about to be jackhammered shut by a new rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms that requires anyone who sells a firearm in this country–including those who host gun shows–to register as a licensed gun dealer and conduct background checks. This measure will also make it much tougher for gun traffickers to get around state laws restricting gun purchases.
Moreover, the NRA has spent the better part of a quarter-century making it difficult, if not impossible, for the ATF to do its job. The NRA lobbied Congress to require Senate confirmation of NRA directors, then persuaded its buddies on Capitol Hill to stonewall every proposed director. As a result, the ATF has only had one permanent director since 2006. It has also persuaded its congressional allies to take a meat-ax to the ATF’s budget.
So the NRA rails about Obama not enforcing existing gun laws after years of punching loopholes through them and making it all but impossible to enforce them? Pot, meet kettle.
