The NRA believes the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun...is a good guy with a gun. What about stopping the bad guy from getting the gun in the first place? Well, there's no plan for that. Because that would cut into the profits.

Speaking for the first time since the massacre in Newtown, the National Rifle Association called for armed security at every school in the country. Lobbyist Wayne LaPierre announced the NRA is launching the "National School Shield Safety Program" to train Americans how to protect schools.

Mayor Bloomberg, an advocate for tougher gun laws, described the idea as a "shameful evasion of the crisis facing our country." But LaPierre said arming the public will stop the next shooting because "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." What do you say?

What's your reaction to the NRA's idea? Do you want to see armed security guards at every school in the country? Will it serve as a crime deterrent, or send the wrong message to kids?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Yeah, lets all have assault weapons and we can have wild west shoot-outs in the streets - and in the schools. More and more guns, that's the ticket! the NRA thinks that this terrible tragedy happened because there weren't armed guards at the school. One question - why the hell did the mother take her mentally disturbed son to a gun range to learn how to shoot assault weapons instead of getting him some therapy? I guess the NRA would agree with her approach to her son's problems.

Meryl from manhattan

Keeping a national “mentally ill list” is a great idea; we could populate the list with the names of all those people out there who are crazy enough to think that more guns will result in a decrease in gun violence and that arming everyone to the teeth is a credible way to “keep us safe” – and put the names of the NRA leadership at the very top of the list.

The NRA is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the gun industry and its sole concern is with the ability of the industry to keep making more money, not with the safety of the public.

Diane
Upper East Side

WHY DOES THE NRA GET ANY SAY? HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? WHEN YOU HAVE THAT ANSWER, YOU WORK ON THE NOTION THAT THEY ONLY HAVE THE POWER IF YOU AGREE THEY HAVE THE POWER. WE DISMANTLED COMPANIES THAT AGREED TO APARTHEID PRACTICES. LET US USE THAT MODEL TO DISMANTLE THE KILLERS WHO USE W.M.D. ON OUR KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOL AND DIE IN THEIR RESPECTFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. CRACK HOUSES WOULD BE SHUT DOWN IF THEY WERE ID'D. WHY NOT GUN SHOWS? WHEN YOU SHUT THEM DOWN, TAKE THEIR INVENTORY AS WELL.

SAVE OUR CHILDREN NOW!

JOE, BAY TERRACE

The NRA needs to go, and the stupidity of the press conference today suggesting more arms to solve massacres is ludicrous, it is obvious that this organization will never take responsibility nor cooperate in bringing about meaningful gun control measures.

Felix
Bay Ridge

The guy is out of his mind and must have his head in the dirt. Not to put down the security industry did he ever see some of the "security guards" that are hired. People don't get screened for gun purchase let alone be a security guard. There are a lot of untreated angry mentally ill people out there, I work in the mental health field. This guy needs to get real stop thinking about what he wants and think about what is good for society as a whole!!

Belinda
forest hills

John,

I agree with the NRA. Studies have shown that the more who carry guns, the fewer the gun crimes. Read More Guns, Less Crime by John Lott.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

Hi John,

Everyone that thinks they know what to do don't even have an idea what the names of the weapons are and what they can do. The remarks after the fact are all against what the NRA had to say. Where are their recommendations? Kelly didn't even see the speech and really didn't go along with what was told him about the NRA's recommendation. He said it wasn't necessary to have an officer in each school because it would be to expensive. That's all they worry about is money, money, money. They seem to want the money in their hands to do as they wish with it. Just look at the people still having problems with Sandy that are pleading with the politicians for financial help. Every one in politics has their own little niche and that's the way it is. We have no say in anything.

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

The NRA's statement that there should be an armed guard in every single school as a result of the Sandy Hook School massacre is not a very good suggestion at all. We cannot turn our schools into armed camps-the goal is to keep our schools safe and to keep guns out of our schools. There was even a suggestion made by a politician that teachers and principals should carry guns,which is totally without logic.What really needs to be done is for the NRA to work in tandem with the President,the Congress and gun companies to find some mutual solution to this ever growing problem. Any person who wants to purchase a gun,either at a gun show or in a gun or sporting goods store must have a thorough background check done. If a discrepancy arises, then that person must not be allowed to purchase a gun. We cannot tolerate any more shootings that will take innocent lives.

Enough is Enough!

John
Fresh Meadows, NY

Gun control is good aim.Gun laws only prevents law abiding citizens from getting them, criminals have no regard for law by nature.Also more people are killed by cars in this country then guns but no one is call for them to be band.In my opinion those who seek new legislation are politicizing the event to support there beliefs.Also people who want to commit crimes choose the weekday people

DP

if you put more guns in the schools what would you called the school the Armory. This is not about an accident its about a murder. It wasnt a gun that killed the kids by accident. It was an intentional act of a person that produced this event. How many he killed is not like how many went to lunch we dont need to ask . we should know that AWARENESS is the element needed right now . Total awareness means each individual on an individual base staying aware of any element of destruction. All the unity in many nations have served no purpose when taken by surprise by a destructive action. To solve and to resolve should be the goal. To blame and disagree is just a delay and distraction.

S A B U

John, if I were to join your first two names, it would be "John Wayne." Wayne is not addressing the problem OR offering a "common sense" solution! He wants to put a band-aid on what the NRA has neglected to face for so many years: their contribution to the epidemic of "GUN VIOLENCE" in AMERICA! Putting guns in the schools is not the answer! Should we arm bank tellers, clergy, hospital officials, and others to prevent "gun violence at their establishments? If so, then everyone, including myself should be armed to "prevent" these horrible acts of gun violence. Only "common sense" can prevent "gun violence."

Liz
Rosedale

Fighting fire with fire and having guns within a close proximity to our children would be opening the door to even more potential disastrous consequences.

I reject the argument that it's the "people" not the "guns"... if there were no guns in the hands of the people - guns would not be firing themselves.

There's obviously no one solution to this issue but Americans need to rationally come up with every possible way to ensure the safety its citizens and especially our defenseless children.

And that in my opinion definitely does not mean more guns!

Dennis
Hamilton Heights

the caller who said they should keep mentally ill from getting permits ignores the fact that the disturbed shooter simply took his sane mother's attack weapons. The proliferation of guns is the problem. A crazy person without access do guns does less...

Liesl

Armed guards in every school is not the answer. Change the type of ballistics that civilians can have as well as types of guns. Why should civilians have automatic weapons. Guns need to have combination locks. Its going to take a concerted from all different areas. And still then it won't be 100 percent.

Oli

Guns in schools...as long as the good guy is a good marksman--no, make that a perfect marksman.

Veronica
Jackson Heights, NY

People who are advocating for guns in schools are 'way off the mark' for coming up with real solutions. How can we teach our kids to be non-violent when we advocate. Violence by saying 'yes' to guns?

D.
Harlem

I can't believe that it took the NRA 7 days to come up with this "solution." I cried once again for the deaths that occurred that morning in Newtown and for the families that waited to hear that there was going to be drastic changes in gun laws. They bypassed putting metal detectors in the schools and went right back to the only thing they know. When they discover that this doesn't work what will they come up with next putting guns in the children's lunchboxes. The NRA should be ashamed of themselves and I think they owe the victim's families a heartfelt apology for even saying that out loud!

Samantha (The Bronx)

More guns does not mean more control. Instead of arming school guards we should invest in programs that deal with mental illness and address the growing social issues among our youth through programs that educate as well as involve young minds. Programs that modern, innovative and current.

Lyon

I feel that it would be a ridiculous idea to have guns and violence that much closer to our children. Me being a US Marine vet and reminding everyone about Fort Hood an Army base that also had military police state police and security patrolling at all times, if a tragedy is destine to happen it will, sorry to say but I would not want guns being near our children.

Andrew

YES! armed guards at NYC schools it is a necessity at this point.

PS

Japan has zero guns and zero gun murders. Hard to believe the NRA is so out of touch. The secondary market and assault rifles need to be banned immediately. We don't have to worry about Al Queda because we're killing ourselves with stupidity.

Tom in Mount Vernon

Come on people NYC schools are already armed. Police officers are assigned along with school safety officers. WAKE UP we only react when someone dies. This was not the first school in this country that had gun violence.

FRANCES FROM HARLEM

If they want to place security guards in all schools, then it should be funded by a tax on the sale of all guns in this country... I'm sure they'll go for that

Mitch from NJ

As a parent I understand the point of view of any parent who lost a child to gun violence but the NRA didn't shoot those children & it is not the NRA who caused any other shootings that go on all over the country. It is honestly the government & the people who are at fault. Let me explain, # 1 the government gets away with making to many regulations & they throw red tape on anything they can think of, & # 2 many people in todays world are just to ignorant especially the ones who believe that stopping guns from being available will stop violence. Basically if you want safety then you need to be your own guide,don't expect the government to babysit you & your loved ones, if anyone at that school had a gun besides the killer this could have been avoided & the same logic applies to any & every other gun violence case. If more people owned guns then less criminals would be brave enough to attack.It's just like women & stun guns, women who own one are generally safer than the women who don't , And even those are illegal in new york city.

MJJ

i think they should have metal detectors in all schools at least they would be checked before they walk in the school

joe
port richmond

Hey John,

It’s been said that there are more guns in a harlem tenement than in the entire U.S. Army, so any new guns laws or purchasing checks won’t accomplish a thing. Let the NRA and gun dealers have their way with guns, just only allow live bullets to be sold from federally authorized Bullet Centers where complete background checks MUST be thoroughly completed. The 2nd Amendment was written at a time when a flintlock rifle that took several minutes to load was the most powerful gun in existence, and should be rewritten entirely to catch up to the times.

Regards,
Walter,
New Dorp

I agree with the NRA that there should be armed guards at school. Just schools. Those are the areas that are regularly targeted by madmen. However I believe that there has to be less guns avaliable. Also the way that the NRA used media as an escape goat was just, plain and simple dumb. How many people don't watch movies and play video games. By that logic everyone should be a killer.

Rodrigo from Bayside, NY

It seems obviously to me: we either pass stricter gun control law, or we have to live in a police state, which means we need to send armed polices to all the schools, colleges, shopping malls, supermarkets, everywhere! I don't think I have choice!

Chen from Upper East Side

The NRA's solution -- armed guards at every school in the country? Really -- did I not hear that there were security guards at Columbine High School when Harris & Klebold went on their shooting rampage in 1999? Perhaps we should train all school teachers and evaluate them on their shooting abilities? Better yet, perhaps all school personnel should practice at target ranges to enable them to combat armed perpetrators? Maybe we should all be armed?

The Newtown School massacre was tragic, incomprehensible and despicable. Not only was the NRA's statement a disgrace but added insult to injury! I cannot even fathom what these families are going through or how it will affect them permanently. My thoughts and prayers are always with the families.

Lisa

Yes, I will like to see armed security guards in schools because I do not want the same horrible thing that happened in sandy hook happen anywhere else, I also think that the sandy hook shooting was away for everyone to open there eyes about school safety, so yes over all there should be armed guards in the schools.

M.

At first glance it may look like a solution, but given the size of a school, its many entrances, school yards, hundreds of students being dismissed at once, it would be impossible to properly guard a school, unless each school had a small army of security guards.

Ed
Murry Hill

Aren't guns illegal in Mexico and legal in Switzerland? The fact that Communist China with their notorious human rights record, supports disarming our citizens speaks volumes. Thoughts and prayers go to the victims and their families.

Marc from Manhattan

The NRA's proposal that supports arming security officers in schools is beyond asinine. And for them to focus on entertainment as a cause for violence is just as asinine. We've worked so hard, at least here in NYC, to keep weapons outside of schools, why would we entertain the notion of bringing them back in? Enforcement of strict gun laws is a necessity, not blind support for the antiquated 2nd amendment that does more harm than good.

Serafin

Look the NRA isn't right nor are they wrong, nor are those calling for tighter gun control. The problem is that theses reactions are just knee-jerk reactions that don't answer anything. No proposed law would have prevented the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Same thing with creating a database of mentally ill individuals. My health issues, physical or mental are for me and my doctors to know, unless i care to share them. We need to realize, that this tragedy was a rare event, given how many schools there are in the US, at the different levels of education.

Luis
Lower East Side

The NRA's proposal would be laughable if it weren't dystopic and sad. Putting armed guards in every school fails the cost/benefit test by a long shot and takes us in the wrong way as a society. Wayne LaPierre asks "What stops a bad guy with a gun?" How about we stop the bad guy from getting a gun? How about we have a better background check system? Why don't we track sales of ammunition and tactical gear? Why don't we limit sales of weapons of mass killing?

Giles
Greenwich Village

Is the NRA taking control of policing the schools. Who do they think they are ? FBI Auxiliary ?

Gerard

Put an armed guard in every school? And what, every business, mall, cinema, etc., etc., etc.? This guy is unbelievable! Let's just go back to the wild wild west and arm EVERYONE!? The NRA is clueless and needs to (excuse the pun) be shot.

Teresa

The idea of having Federal School Marshals very similar to a Sky Marshall would seem like a logical deterrent in schools. These marshals should be a federal sponsored group.So that any violation would be federal assault as well as a state assault on them.

John B
New York, NY

The NRA did not mention abolishing automatic weapons but attempted to divert the public to calling for recording the names of all citizens diagnosed as mentally ill by a psychiatrist. This additional stigma will result in mentally ill people from not seeking treatment , medication or hospilization otherwise we will loose our human rights and our rights as outlined in the constitution and bill Of Rights.

Allan
Midwood

I'm not surprised by the solution presented by the National Rifle Association. Armed guards means more guns! Ha! That's not the solution.

Carol

Guns are here to stay, cant get rid of them, so, I support the idea of having an armed security guard in every school, if that's what's going to take to keep our kids safe.

Carmen, Bay Ridge

My name is Maggie From Brooklyn (williams burg section). The thought has crossed my mind about the armed security at ever school,I strongly agree with that thought or maybe give the school safety officers a license to carry a gun to protect our children.

The NRA has no honor. Guns in schools? Are we going to be an armed camp? And why doesn't the leadership of the NRA attend the funerals of mass murderer's victims? Where were the after VA Tech? Where were they after Aurora? etc, etc. All they do is clamor for more guns even if they are assault weapons. The second amendment does not preclude regulation. the army also has tanks, and anti aircraft weapons, does that mean everyone has to have one? That's how the NRA sounds.

Penny from Midwood, Brooklyn

Lets get real. It not just schools. Ban assault weapons period. NRA? No Real Answers!

Jimmy the Bronx.

Mr. LePierre is devoid of any sense of decency whatsoever. He is a disgrace to the human race and should be ashamed of himself. God help anyone who considers this lunatic to be a good American.

Victoria
LES

I am against any teachers, or staff to carry guns to school. There should be a alert system from entrance to main office when someone is starting problems in the front or entrance. Where it gives all staff time to react.

Sandra
Bronx, NY

The statement made by Wayne LaPierre today was absurd and obscene. I have never heard a more offensive and disgusting rant in my life.

Frances
East Village

I don't think having an armed guard in every school should be the the first thing done to make schools more secure. What about beefing up the security of the building with the use of surveillance cameras at every door at the school and carefully monitored at all times. A security guard should be able to see who is approaching any entrance to the building, and if they are carring anything. Some kind of automatic gates could be activated in hall ways to deter an intruder. There could be a safe zone inside the school. Childen could practice entering the zone just like they practice fire drills. School exits(fire doors) are generally locked from the outside but must remain unlocked from the inside. A saftey plan should be in place. Generally there are no alarms on these doors and they can be propped open from the inside allowing an intruder to enter. It seems to me that shootings are becoming more common than fires in schools so maybe these doors need to be secured in another way. Surely the building itself can be made more secure, before we resort to armed guards in elementary schools.

NYC retired teacher

I was particularly upset by this NYC police deputy's thoughts , Michael, Rosebank's, and overall POV on the issue of gun control. He accepts armed guards in schools then he attributed a portion of his statement to Hitler? I've added your segment to reddit as a discussion.

Thanks,
Mark

In reference to the ridiculousness of the 'assault weapons ban', Wayne is right. Gun violence, like make complex issues, are not caused by a single source. That is just a fact. I understand people want to blame someone or some entity for rise in shootings, but its not that simplistic. Creating this campaign on assault weapons is just a nonsensical, political deviation from the real problem and solution. Anyone with basic critical thinking can see it, if they choose to set aside their own personal opinions, ignore the politics fueling the fire, and just listen. Banning assault weapons or creating stricter gun control is NOT going to slow down gun violence in any way. After all, laws against illegal drugs don't deter its use. If someone wants to go on a shooting spree, they will do it regardless of what kind of gun they use (Virginia Tech). And it takes only 1 bullet to kill, no matter what type of gun it is being fired from. Sandy Hook has hit a sensitive spot in all of us. But in a time like this we can't let our personal anguish and disgust get in the way of preventing something like this in the future. It is our lack of action against these shootings thats inciting future incidences. We can't let one more innocent life be snatched away because of our hesitation. Armed teachers/guards are the only tangible way of protecting our schools. And armed, trained, RESPONSIBLE citizens are the only way of protecting our communities when our police are not immediately available. I would rather be armed against someone with a gun rather than be a target. To those who say it will turn America back to the wild-west era, people that are trained in the use of firearms are taught how to handle it responsibly and respect its power. Similar to how people are trained in martial arts, they respect it. That's why you don't see gangs of black belts going around starting street fights, they are trained in its use but are taught responsibility (only when absolutely needed). We need to understand these realities and make the hard choices and act for themselves. Not just brush it off due to our perception of the worst-case scenario might be. There is only so much the government can do to protect you. Action is needed on our part to protect ourselves and others, and we can't wait for another public shooting or Sandy Hook happen to do so. And another WILL happen soon. Sometimes what needs to be done is not necessarily what we want to do.

M.M.

I'm Sandra from Bronx, NY.

I would like to say that in NYC we have officers in our schools from Elementary Schools all the way to High Schools. I believe that having armed officers in all schools across America would be a positive and safe impact and peace of mind to all.

I think the callers promoting the use of armed guards in schools are missing the bigger point: why do we allow the sale of automatic weapons and multiple round magazines? If the NRA wants people to have guns for hunting, target practice and protection, why is it necessary to produce weapons that are intended to kill the maximum number of individuals in the shortest possible time? And why shouldn't buyers at gun shows be subject to the same background checks as buyers at gun shops? If the NRA wants to have any credibility at all, they should support these measures instead of this ridiculous notion of having gun-toting vigilantes in our schools.

David in Fresh Meadows

Please do not think that everyone in Greenwich Village wants to see armed guards in our schools. The opinion you heard expressed was definitely in the minority. The truth is, no citizens really needs a gun. And especially, no citizen needs an assault weapon. The only people who should have access to assault weapons are the military and law enforcement. The NRA misinterprets the Second Amendment’s intention. At the time it was written, we did not have a government organized military force, America was then contemplating a revolution. That time has long since passed. The Second Amendment’s intention has long since become antiquated if properly interpreted and should be amended out of existence.

Jay

first of all my condolences to the victims family from Sandy Hook elementary, second of all, they should have on police officers in schools.... the schools will feel a lot better a lot safer and better educated in terms of respect and security.... they should also have implements a better security strategy.... I've been at metal detectors an x ray machines.... I believe the guns in the schools would drop dramatically from coming in.... but you also gotta look outside of schools and protect at least a 2 block radius around the schools with undercover police officers.... just something to think about. bless and Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,
Hector C. Jr.

It amazes me about how fickle people are. I had a sister, a brother, and my husband was murdered...There will be many more murders in schools_ because you people don't get it. If you put unemployed well-adjusted undercover soldiers, retired volunteer licensed folks or police in all schools, things will change. Otherwise, your kids and family will always be a sitting duck for the crazes or more people will be home schooling their own kids
in order to protect their. ASK ME ABOUT GUNS!

AJ

The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is in the Constitution too! Why does the 2nd Amendment trump my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? We are guaranteed freedom of speech in the 1st Amendment, but it is illegal to scream "Fire!" in a crowded theatre or room if there really is no fire, because it can create a huge panic and people could get trampled to death in the mad rush to escape. Imagine the panic if in that same crowded room or theatre, some gunman with an assault rifle showed up and pointed it at you or me or everyone in the place. This is worse than screaming "Fire," because you're dead before you even begin that mad rush to the exit. Isn't there one smart lawyer who can challenge the 2nd Amendment in the same way that lawyer did who defended that exception to the 1st Amendment?

Adina

Here they go again, the oh so intelligent people of modern day society. just take a look at some things people say, it's hard to believe that this country has any logical citizens at all .Let me try to make this short, FIRST off -- no the NRA is not making rules for the country nor are they in control of the laws that we get stuck living with but they are right . take a look at some European countries where guns are not only allowed but endorsed & majority of the citizens own at least one gun , the crime rates are not like the U.S. because many would be criminals are afraid of getting killed .SECOND -- now this is for the anti-war ,anti-hate ,anti-violence ,hippie screw ups out there who keep rambling on about the wild wild west. NO we do not live in wild west times my simple minded friends, BUT we do live in a VERY modern high tech fast track world with multiple countries packing every gun & bomb ever thought of. We also live in a world where most of the people who legally own guns are not interested in hurting other people but will shoot if it means saving their life or another persons , especially a child . Unfortunately most violent gun crimes happen in gun free zones LIKE schools , stores , government buildings , daycare centers , parks , & right out in open public spaces . New york city is NOT gun friendly & is full of horrible crimes ,Connecticut is also not gun friendly & this sick person got away. with killing children. Basically for all the big talkers out there, Guns & any other form of protection are not evil & cannot force normal everyday people to just go on random killing sprees get that through your head , people are screwed up & will find any way to hurt someone if that's what they want to do but there is no logical reason why a parent or anyone for that matter needs to stand by helplessly as friends & family die by criminal hands .All you have to do is be willing to fight back .think of the saying (bringing a knife to a gun fight) now that sounds like a dumb idea right ,so then who is dumb enough to bring only their words to a gun fight?

MJJ