Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Wayne LaPierre Hits Back During Hearing: ‘Background Checks Will Never Be Universal Because Criminals Will Never Submit to Them’

Jan. 30, 2013 1:25pm Madeleine Morgenstern

NRAs Wayne LaPierre: Background Checks Will Never Be Universal Because Criminals Will Never Submit to Them

National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre speaks during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. (Getty Images)

National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre on Wednesday assailed universal background checks and other new proposed gun regulations, declaring that “law-abiding gun owners” won’t take the blame for “violent or deranged criminals.”

In his opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee following last month’s elementary school in Newtown, Conn., LaPierre called on lawmakers to enforce “the thousands of gun laws already on the books,” rather than create new ones.

“Prosecuting criminals who misuse firearms works,” LaPierre said. “Proposing more gun laws while failing to enforce the ones we already have, it’s not a serious solution for reducing crime.”

LaPierre delivered his statement shortly after former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords urged her former congressional colleagues to take “bold” action to prevent more gun violence. Giffords was seriously injured when a gunman shot her in the head during a 2011 shooting spree that left six others dead in Tucson, Ariz.

President Barack Obama earlier this month signed a number of executive orders aimed at curbing gun violence, but has called on Congress to act on a new “assault weapons” ban and universal background checks for gun buyers.

“Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe that government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families,” LaPierre said Wednesday. “We need to be honest about what works and what does not work.”

He said semi-automatic weapons have been “around for 100 years,” are among the most popular for hunting and protection, and that many studies “including one from the Clinton Justice Department” have concluded that banning them has no impact on crime.

“When it comes to be background checks let’s be honest,” LaPierre said. “Background checks will never be ‘universal,’ because criminals will never submit to them.”

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (117)

sameolsonganddance
Posted on April 7, 2013 at 11:06pm
I do not believe, at all, that anyone is coming to take your guns away. You do not need 30 round clips, assault rifles, or machine pistols. If you can legally own a gun, then background checks shouldnt bother you. (I can’t, but if I wanted a gun I could get one in about 1 1/2 hours) A shotgun, a pistol, and a rifle, is plenty firepower for the citizens. I support the 2nd amendment, but, it was quite awhile back when it was drafted. There are quite a few….. more folks now. There will be regulation on guns due to the loss of innocents life. If you can’t deal with that, then, get the weapon you want illegally. There will also be Obamacare, and it wont be repealed. You all talk down to liberals/demos, but the fact is, your way dont work, and it nearly caused the 2nd depression. Yet you all tell the same lies, exaggerations, and fabrications, over and over again, just different words. You will have your guns, and you will undergo a background check. No one is trying to take your guns, or violate the 2nd amendment. The nation has voted, 2 terms, and Obama won. Get with the program, or YOU move to a country where you support the laws, and government. this sameolsonganddance– I aint buyin.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jeffersonian1776
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:56pm
GUNS are AMORAL! That’s not immoral, but amoral. Big difference, but commie libs know not the difference.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jasonsmommy
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:37am
He is right. How many criminals do you know that have respect for the laws of our country. I can count 11 million that don’t right off.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Webeenhad
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:23am
Unfortunately “Bold” action in political speak is not the same as doing something that actually works for the masses. They should replace the word “Bold” with the words “Stupid and self serving”.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ryan1977
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 10:59pm
The last time I checked, no background check was required to by a stolen gun from the trunk of a car…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
allen0617
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 10:43pm
If taking away the guns will make peace then I think our Government should take the first step. Lets make it unlawful for local police, state police, FBI, border patrol, ATF, Homeland security, Secret Service, and any other law enforcement agency not elected by the people, to carry firearms of any kind. That would get several 100 thousand guns off the streets right now. That should make things more peaceful. At least they wouldn’t be shooting people because its easer than using non-leathal means.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Tom70
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 9:58pm
Plead the 5th. I wonder how many guns and bullets Feinsteins hubby Blumm has stashed for re sail to make a profit. He’ll not have any problem finding buyers and old knot head Feinstein will get special legislation to protect him and his consortium.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Verceofreason
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 8:47pm
The American PEOPLE have spoken Waaaaaaayne.
Remember them?
They out number the NRA
Get your resume up to date.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
noslave
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 8:19pm
if you give STRAW BUYERS THAT BUY GUNS LEGALY? FOR GANG MEMBERS?20 yrs to life if their used in a crime?you’ll see a drastic drop in crime or a rise in gun prices??

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 7:08pm
The right to bear arms, shall not be infringed, by location, by opinion, or by the good intentions of the cherry picking media that mocked Mitt Romney and his comparison of a bloated government regulation system (hello California and your bankrupting prison system?) to the simplification of basic concepts condensed by private innovation and symbolized by the ordering process of a hamburger at a “wah wah” restaurant?

Read the article signed by the Green Berets, that breaks it down so that there are no excuses, and no more justifications by the press to distort the myths about firearms as an excuse to elevate criminals and rip away civil rights designed to preserve the fire of liberty, self preservation, and the ability to serve the community as the living extensions of ethics in government?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Detox
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 6:31pm
Revolution commeth.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
blackyb
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 5:39pm
Former Gov. Ryan is home from prison (Democrat.) There is an opening for Obama and we are waiting.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
tyuchic
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 5:25pm
NRA is lucky to have a spokesman as talented as Wayne Lapierre. Godspeed.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Joshua81
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 8:27pm
  Agreed, proud of Mr. Lapierre. I watched some of the hearing today. The left is simply ignorant.
  
  Report this comment
Locked-n-Loaded
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:40pm
@PA Patriot:
You mentioned Pa House Bill 357. There is a facebook fan page gaining popularity right now in support of this bill, maybe you already liked it. Just an FYI, I liked it, so should everyone who owns a gun in PA. Heres the link: http://www.facebook.com/PaHouseBill357
Spread the word! They have almost 8,000 likes so far. of course, we should also write our representatives directly and let them know how we feel!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Apexduck
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:13pm
I’ve decided the best analogy for gun control laws ie: Blaming guns for crimes is like blaming digital cameras for child porn. Crimes are committed by criminals not by objects. Would limiting the size of digital media for cameras and high resolution cameras limit in any way those who choose to create child porn? The same goes for semi automatic firearms and high capacity magazines, it will do nothing to prevent a criminal from commiting their criminal acts.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:49pm
Gosh. So just passing more laws doesn’t solve things BECAUSE criminals do not follow laws to begin with. Double “Duh , ” Democrats !!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Apexduck
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:15pm
  Nope not one bit, but now we will be really really mad at the bad guy.
  
  Report this comment
truthnstuff
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:44pm
It;s amazing that you have to point out the obvious and the stupid still don’t get it. Is it possible that evolution is true, and the liberals just never developed a brain?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:50pm
  They certainly are lacking Common Sense !
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 2:50pm
IF I remember correctly not one single Democrat at the Giffords gathering mad an attempt to stop the shooter. It was some guy that was on his way into the Super market who had a weapon in his car, but no time to retrieve it. He ran to the scene and moved on the shooter before reload.
There was a story about the aids that helped subdue the guy, but it was the gun owner who ran TO the scene, even without his weapon that was the catalyst to end it.
The gun owner without his gun did what he could, the ‘aids’ cringed until he arrived.
This is the difference between people who understand guns and those that don’t. Valor.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Apexduck
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:14pm
  Run and hide !!! The police will be here later to make the bad guy go away!
  
  Report this comment
founderschild
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 2:43pm
It never ceases to amaze me how our lawmakers fail to use facts in forming the laws we must live by. All the gun free zones have done is make our children and other defenseless people sitting ducks for every nut case out there. They can freely commit mahem knowing that there will be no one to stop them. This country has totally run out of common sense.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- drs1969
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:00pm
  What a coincidence that schools are absolutely full of college grads. Some w/ multiple degrees! They’ve stupidly created an ‘open season’ on themselves!
  
  Report this comment
- drs1969
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:01pm
  What a coincidence that schools are absolutely full of college grads. Some w/ multiple degrees! They’ve stupidly created an criminals ‘open season’ on themselves!
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 3:53pm
  The country ran ” out of common sense” when we elected the Far Left Democrats who are still trying to install a form of government and an economic system which collapsed in the Soviet Union and which is collapsing now in Europe.
  
  Report this comment
- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 30, 2013 at 4:06pm
  An outspoken ‘l’ibertarian attorney talkjock of my acquaint dates the decline from the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of The United States, 18 August 1920, saying women are committed to security rather than liberty.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.