Malloy: NRA’s LaPierre acts like a circus clown
(CNN) - Responding to criticism from the National Rifle Association over Connecticut's new gun laws, Gov. Dan Malloy argued the pro-gun group's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, is simply blowing smoke.
"Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus - they get the most attention. That's what he's paid to do," Malloy said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'] [twitter-follow screen_name='KilloughCNN']
The Democratic governor on Thursday signed into law some of the nation's strictest gun regulations, following the state's devastating school shooting in December in Newtown, which left 20 children and six adults dead.
The new Connecticut laws include the addition of more than 100 weapons to the state’s list of banned assault weapons - including the semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle, one of the firearms used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The law also bans the sale of magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, as well as armor-piercing bullets. Buyers will need a certificate to buy ammunition.
It also requires background checks for all gun purchases.
LaPierre said this week that the only people who will follow the new regulations are law-abiding gun owners, not criminals.
"I think the problem with what Connecticut did is the criminals, the drug dealers, the people that are going to do horror and terror, they aren't going to cooperate," LaPierre said on Fox News. "I mean, all you're doing is making the lawbooks bigger for the law-abiding people."
Asked who will be most affected by the new laws, Malloy said they'll be "probably a little tougher on everybody."
"This guy is so out of whack, it's unbelievable," Malloy told CNN's chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, referring to LaPierre.
Connecticut became the third state to pass tough measures since the December rampage in Newtown. New York and Colorado passed gun control legislation limiting magazine capacity, among other provisions.
Malloy pointed to the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans favor the idea of more background checks, a proposal found in legislation currently sitting before the U.S. Senate. The NRA, however, opposes that bill.
"I can't get on a plane, as the governor of the state of Connecticut, without somebody running a background check on me. Why should you be able to buy a gun? Or buy armor-piercing munitions? It doesn't make any sense. He doesn't make any sense," he said.
Another controversial measure in the Connecticut law is the requirement to register pre-existing magazines that hold more rounds than the new limit. Malloy said the registry was needed so that there are no new high-capacity magazines in Connecticut, and so law enforcement can tell the difference between the ones that already existed in the state and the new ones.
“If you bring a magazine that you purchased in another state into our state, it's illegal. Period,” he said.
The NRA last week released detailed recommendations for its proposal to train and arm adults to keep watch in schools as a way to protect kids from shooters. It also had proposals for mental health programs.
Asked if there was anything in the NRA plan that he agreed with, Malloy said "precious little," adding that schools need tougher protection barriers from intruders - but not necessarily armed guards.
"What this is about is the ability of the gun industry to sell as many guns to as many people as possible - even if they're deranged, mentally ill, a criminal background, they don't care. They want to sell guns," Malloy argued.
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
none of the "leaders" of the NRA will change their tune about gun control until one of their family members is a victim.
The only clowns are those in Washington who don't know anything about guns but yet want to make new laws instead of enforcing the current ones.
Adam Lanza's mother was a law-abiding gun owner... wasn't she??? and what happened to her and her guns? RIIIIIIIGHT.
this whole "law-abiding gun owner" statement is bogus. Everyone is law-abiding until they break the law. Law-abiding people turn into criminals all the time, and it's much quicker conversion when guns are in play.
Several professional clowns are friends of mine and they do not appreciate the insult.
La Pierre IS a ciircus clown. He is so rigid in his thinking that he is unable to see any logic other than his which is dangerously faulty. Facts and figures can show just how all this man thinks of is the money involved in the gun picture,,,, Sad to say,,,the only thing that would change his thinking is if someone he cares about and loves has the misfortune to be a victim.....We can only hope that wiser heads prevail..!!!
Go away nra
The only people who follow speeding laws are law abiding citizens. Do we dump speed limits? NO, we punish those who violate the law. Same thing, same logic.
I cant wait for the voting and filibuster to start. None of this crap will pass in the senate, and if by chance it does, the congress will kill it immediately.
You liberals think you can pass laws and the criminals will respond. The laws just infringe on law abiding citizens who will be the first to protect you. gun free and drug free school zones are really working aren't they. If a good person had a gun in Newtown their would be less victims but ya"ll don't care about that just more laws on law abiding citizens. If criminals obeyed laws we would not need police and everyone would be safe. The only thing that stops a bad man with a gun is a good man with one
“NRA’s LaPierre acts like a circus clown.” Sadly La Pierre is not acting. He is a circus clown.
Critical thinking is essential to rescue the nation. I don't see it much anywhere, any more in America. God save us.
A old courtroom trick. When you don't have a defense attack the character of your opponent. When Candy Crawley asked him a straight forward question, like most liberals he didn't answer but attaked with ridicule and trashing the other side. Sandy put it to him and all he could do was character assanation. It certainly is nothing new. Question would the new bans have prevented the shooting? Yes or No. Then lay out the "facts" that support your answer. Don't use, maybe, could be, might be, just facts.
Excellent posting.....
Wait a minute, I see all the criminals in CT lining up to register their firearms and magazines. Yes, there they all are!
When are the non-evolved gun nuts going to get a clue.
Non Reality Association... I have to register my car and then register myself to drive it. I have to register to vote and then prove who I am to do so. I have to register my dogs and cats to keep them at my house. I have registered certifications with requirements of 120 hours of continued training to keep my job. Owning a weapon, it's only real purpose is to kill, doesn't need to be vetted or registered because the WACKS want to use the argument the government might be your real problem? I don't think so...
If you have watched many horror movies, or even the right Post Office commercial, you know that clowns are sometimes terrifying rather than funny. So it is with Wayne LaPierre.
I agree with the governor completely and he is doing the right thing thanks.. the National Redneck Assc has done to much damage to our country..
Only a clown would like or support any kind of assault weapons period.
This governor is a tool and nothing more. Why don't they try and fix the problem instead of just banning what they do not understand. Does he really believe that criminals will obey this law? The only people that are affected are the law abiding citizens. Do not be surprised when one day all your freedoms are stripped away one at a time, that is what is being allowed to happen.
It's not about the 2nd it's about how much the NRA gets paid and how much money politicians get from the NRA. Plain and simple. Our government is corrupt and has been for awhile. It is still payola. PAY FOR PLAY.
Maybe it won't stop a drug dealer and common street thug types, but it would probably stop an Adam Lanza type, the ones that typically commit the mass shootings in schools and theaters.
...Malloy is absolutely right.
and by the way, plain&simple, you are half right, background checks do not infringe on the rights of the people, but the other part banning more than 100 weapons does.
Liberal logic:
Gov. Dan Malloy, these gun laws I introduce in 2013 will curb gun violence. Really they will.
They are better gun laws than the one's we introduced in 2012 .
Because now it's double illegal to use a gun. Those criminals will have to follow the law. Cause now its double illegal.
What a dullard. Last I checked it was always illegal to use a gun in a crime. Adding more laws does what again?
Oh well, thank me for 3D printers where you can now print your own 30,40 or 50 round magazines from home as well as make lower receivers for your AR 15's. Gee liberals now what ?