Wayne LaPierre and intelligence

go together like ____________ (fill-in blank)


Actually, I don't mean to be making an ad hominem attack on NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne Lapierre here. I only mean to be hinting at one. Unfortunately, mere hinting probably takes me across a line I ought to be refusing to cross.

Never mind.

The NRA released a statement by LaPierre yesterday as a prelude to his testimony in front of some congressional committee today. After refusing, on behalf of law-abiding gun owners and toters everywhere, to "accept blame for the acts of violent and deranged criminals," the statement outlines the NRA's implicit position that government ought to keep out of the business of governing:

“Nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families,” [LaPierre] added.

(For all readers willing to risk right-wing cooties, here is the website from which I got the preceding quotes.)

Anyway, I'm wondering who else it is that Mr. LaPierre thinks should be determining "what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families." Because here's the thing, Wayne, if we mean to be "lawful," we need an entity that makes and enforces "laws." For the time being, at least, here in the United States, the entity that makes and enforces law is called "government."

So, either you're kidding about what you believe, or you don't actually intend to abide by the law, or the statement just doesn't make any sense. Or, maybe, all three.