Is a Culture Captivated by Guns Ready for Change
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The National Rifle Association today broke the silence it's maintained since last week's elementary-school massacre in Connecticut. Can a culture captivated by guns get ready for change? Also, Congress has adjourned for Christmas after Speaker John Boehner failed to get all his fellow Republicans to support his "Plan B." We look at the possible options left for the President and Democrats who only control the Senate.
Banner image: Brittany Randolf
Making News
NRA Points Finger at Media, Calls for Armed Guards in Schools ()
The NRA's executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said today that the lives of 20 Connecticut first-graders might have been saved last week if school officials had guns. He called for every school to be protected by armed guards. La Pierre, who was twice interrupted by protesters with signs saying, "NRA Killing Our Kids," did not respond to the protesters or take questions from reporters. Sean Sullivan is political reporter for the Washington Post.
Guests:
- Sean Sullivan: Washington Post, @FixSean
Reporter's Notebook
Conservative House Republicans Reject Boehner's Plan B ()
The Obama White House is "as incredulous and bewildered as the rest of Washington" that House Speaker John Boehner had to cancel his vote on what he called "Plan B" because he failed to get the support of all his Republican caucus members. That's according the Jackie Calmes, White House correspondent for the New York Times.
Guests:
- Jackie Calmes: New York Times, @calmesnyt
Main Topic
Is a Culture Captivated by Guns Ready for Change ()
The National Rifle Association today broke the silence it's maintained since last week's elementary-school massacre in Connecticut. The NRA's top spokesman said, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," demanding that Congress pay for armed guards in every schoolyard. Much of Wayne LaPierre's lengthy statement today played on the fear that mass killers are planning more attacks on American children. He was defensive about attacks on his organization and what he characterized as the media's predisposition to be against guns. Earlier this morning, President Obama released a videotape urging public support for renewing the assault-weapons ban and other new regulations. Can a culture captivated by guns ready for change?
Guests:
- Tom Diaz: author and former policy analyst, @agknowitall
- Craig Whitney: author and former journalist
- Brooks Barnes: New York Times, @brooksbarnesNYT
- Adam Lankford: University of Alabama
Links:
- Harvard psychologist Matthew Nock on suicidal behavior
- Diaz's 'Making a Killing: The Business of Guns in America'
- Diaz's 'The Last Gun: How the Gun Industry Are Killing Americans and What We Can Do to Stop It '
- Whitney's 'Living with Guns: A Liberal's Case for the Second Amendment'
- Barnes on violence in TV and movies
- Lankford's 'The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters and other Self-Destructive Killers'
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