Connecticut Gov. Savages Wayne LaPierre: 'This Guy Is So Out of Whack, It’s Unbelievable\

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (right) called National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre a "clown" on Sunday. (AP photos)

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) ripped National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre on Sunday as someone who reminds him of "the clowns at the circus."

Malloy was responding to LaPierre's criticism of Connecticut's new gun restrictions, signed into law after December's elementary school massacre in Newtown. LaPierre said the new rules won't affect criminals but will only make things harder for law-abiding citizens.

"Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus. They get the most attention and that's what he's paid to do," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "This guy is so out of whack, it’s unbelievable. Ninety-two percent of the American people want universal background checks. 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 ammunition? It doesn't make any sense -- he doesn't make any sense, thus my reference to the circus."

Malloy later pleaded with CNN's Candy Crowley to "bring [the NRA] back to reality."

"Why are they against universal background checks when 92 percent of the American public is in favor of them?" he asked. "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, even if they're mentally ill, even if they have a criminal background. They don't care, they want to sell guns."

--

​Related:

• Gabrielle Giffords Slams ‘Scare Tactics’ and ‘Misinformation’ in Call for Universal Background Checks
• 15-Year-Old Girl Who Gave Viral Pro-Gun Testimony Speaks Out: ‘Takes Away Our Own Sense of Security and Defense’
• Here’s How Connecticut’s Tough Gun Control Bill Compares to New Laws in New York and Colorado