This assignment is an audio interview project. I decided to focus on one of my residents from where I work because I see this man every Wednesday, alone, painting miniatures for gaming. No one really talks to him. No one says much to him. However, I noticed him. Nearly a year ago, I said, “Hi.” This is only audio. I do plan on reposting after I have completed this semester to add visual content with the audio.
Mr. Wayne Hansen
Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and CEO of the National Rifle Association, is sworn in before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Jan. 30. (Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
Audio Clip: Wayne LaPierre- Gun Laws
Today, Wayne LaPierre, the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Associate of America, took the stand before a U.S. Senate Committee, at the Hart Senate Office Building, for a judiciary hearing regarding “What Should America Do About Gun Violence?” This is the first congressional hearing after new proposals for gun control made my President Obama. LaPierre provided a voice for 4.5 million members of the NRA and their concerns about gun control law proposals. His speech included support for education, awareness of mental illness and the effects of previous gun control laws. In attendance were Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), retired astronaut Mark Kelly, and his wife, former Representative of Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords. Each were allowed to make statements prior to the hearing. Giffords was not scheduled to give testimony, however, provided a brief statement.
Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt two years prior, stated clearly about the quantity of children as victims to gun violence as “too many children.” While the NRA has programs to educate children about gun safety, the “Eddie Eagle” children’s safety program is not available in all school districts, including low-income districts. Schools are looking for new ways to protect the children attending their facilities, including hiring armed security personnel. LaPierre stated that one-third of American schools have armed security, with the numbers increasing. Some school districts, along with local law enforcement and state officials, have flocked to hire armed guards as security to protect the children from active shooter scenarios, after the events of Sandy Hook. However, some armed guards have been leaving their service weapon in the restrooms, to be found by the young people they are hired with protecting. Just two weeks prior, on January 14, in a school in Lapeer, Michigan, an armed guard’s weapon was discovered in a bathroom. Despite the irony of the situation, school officials mentioned that the weapon was not loaded and the gun was not out of the guard’s possession for long.
LaPierre distracts from gun control laws by implying that mental illness is the culprit for events similar to Sandy Hook and that legal law-abiding citizens are being punished for criminals breaking the laws. Senator Grassley previously agreed with statements of refraining from knee-jerk reactions to the tragedies of Newtown and Tuscon and reexamining mental health relations to mass shooting. LaPierre disregarded the push for universal background checks because criminals would circumvent these checks. Currently, medical and health records are not allowed to be used in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. Mental illness diagnoses and treatment fall under those health records regulations. In addition, with the ease of obtaining a gun, Mark Kelly mentioned closing the private sales loophole, which these sales evade the background checks and include straw-purchases. The excuse of mental illness is considered the straw man argument to gun control laws.
Without having to submit to a mental evaluation, a “sane” person has the ability to purchase semi-automatic firearms. Semi-automatic firearms have the capability of rapidly loading the weapon to repeatedly shoot a target. President Obama proposed a reinstatement of a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. There are multiple YouTube videos of semi-automatics. One in particular shows a 100-bullet clip for a Glock. Keep in mind that is 100 bullets. A lot of gun enthusiasts protect their semi-automatics by claiming their use for hunting. LaPierre defends semi-automatic weapons, stating hunting as a reason why semi-automatic weapons are the most popular. A running joke at a Georgia gun shop has been that if a hunter comes up stating their desire for a pistol to go hunting, then they are mentally ill.
Despite current gun laws and proposed reinstatements of bans, gun ownership in 2011 was six percent from a decade ago. Also, the public opinion of gun laws has changed drastically from that same decade. Since 2008 Gallup polls have indicated there has been a steady increase to maintain or relax current laws. An evaluation at The Harvard Injury Control Research Center found no substantial evidence for a connection that more guns mean there will be more murders.