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NRA: Biden meetings are just for 'show'

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    Reaction from NRA's chief lobbyist

  • Duration 7:07
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Fox News alert -- new reaction from the National Rifle Association to the ongoing gun debate in this country.

The group came out of yesterday's gun violence meeting with the vice president Joseph Biden.

Calling that meeting a quote political show.

Issued a statement that reads in part quote we were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe.

And how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment.

While claiming that no policy proposals would be prejudged this task force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners.

Honest tax paying hardworking.

Americans.

-- -- now is Chris Cox the chief lobbyist for the NRA Chris thanks so much for being here.

The negative things are happening so you went to the White House or your ear -- colleagues go to the White House to meet with the vice president.

Obviously as somebody who is.

You know chiefly responsible for the 2004.

Assault weapons ban that was in place you know Joseph Biden we all know where he stance but what did you expect you were gonna get there.

All -- and we were hoping to have a meaningful conversation about how we keep our kids safe.

That's a conversation that's happening all over America those are about those of us who are parents are having it.

And we are hoping to have some some meaningful discussion but it became very clear.

The very early that they were looking to hear from gun owners.

They were looking to blame gun owners and that's unfortunate because this is a very serious discussion there's things that can be done.

But our number one objective is to keep our kids safe.

-- that's I want pick up on with you there are things that can be done.

Your -- -- a lot of power and that's because the American people believe in your mission so many millions of Americans -- -- your -- and I know -- enrollments have gone way up in the in the wake of all this talk and so on but then there are millions of Americans who hold a different view.

What is it you think can be agreed on.

Well there's things that can be done right now if we look at the goal of protecting our kids we need more arms security.

But it was good enough for Bill Clinton Bill Clinton supported cops in schools if it's good enough for Bill Clinton it should be good enough for President Obama.

But -- we also have to address the underlying problem and have an honest discussion about what works and what doesn't work gun control's been a failed experiment.

Joseph Biden push to -- and threw a 1994.

And Bill Clinton's Justice Department said it had no impact on crime.

So let's look at mental health let's look at a violent culture let's look at things that can really address the underlying problem then we can start making a difference in our kids.

Lives thank you for that correction 940 it and it was in place until 2004.

-- but what specifically and I know I mean clearly clearly we need to look at the mental health system I've -- this program many times.

That that summer so focused on disarming the mad man that they're not focused -- -- in how we dissuade the man met the bad man I mean.

-- it or at least control him or put -- someplace where he can't get access to any weapons whether it's a -- and things that's clearly need to be need to be addressed.

But is there any gun restriction you know they're talking about universal background checks are tightening the mental health background checks that go to places or anything that you could agree on.

Or -- -- right with regards the no health system there were red flags and all of the businesses were people ignored problems.

We can't do that anymore in this country if you see something you need to say something.

The mental health records need to be put in the gun background check system no question about it about half the states are putting in those records.

We support efforts to get those guns in the in the system -- get those records and the system.

But the problem is negatives you know in Connecticut these guns were stolen.

So we can talk about background checks all day long but it's not addressing the underlying problem.

But how do we keep our kids safe.

Let's do better job with school security let's do a better job with no health and then let's look across the board at a violent culture that we all know is having an impact.

But the National Rifle Association supports safety and responsibility that's who we are that's what -- about and we're not gonna accept the blame.

For a madman or deranged criminal -- goes out he calls a problem.

Now limits of their -- they're clearly some people who are looking to just.

Use what's happened as an excuse to push an agenda they have long before this but there are many others who are.

Rational thinking people who just say is there anything we can do because we we don't want another and another.

New town we don't -- and if there's a way of keeping the high capacity magazine -- the ER fifteen out of the hands of somebody like -- Adam Lanza.

They're they're trying to think of the way and in and they didn't focus a lot on those high capacity magazines you've heard your detractors say what do you need a hundred a hundred rounds for you know I mean.

-- what capacities -- necessary your thoughts on.

Meg and every gun owner in America.

Was heartbroken over what happened in Connecticut there's no gun owner in America who wants to see some mad -- go out and issues a firearm.

But we start we have to be honest in this country about what works and what doesn't work we had a gun ban we had a high capacity magazine -- Not for six months or for a year but for a decade.

And even Bill Clinton's Justice Department said it had no impact so we want paper over these problems with feel good legislation that won't keep our kids safe.

That's the direction the conversation should go.

That's not our objective that's not our -- on principle our principle is let's work together to keep our kids safe.

Let's do a better job with armed security let's address and tackle these underlying problems with mental health if we do that.

We can help keep our kids safe and wall -- better -- to school.

They say at the White House about the mental health issue now that something else they're gonna take a look at civilians Kathleen Sebelius -- is more taking the Helm on that we're told rather than Joseph Biden but.

What -- -- studio when you push that issue.

They -- -- -- talking about those things they were instant talking about pursuing a failed gun control agenda and that's unfortunate and now we're gonna take this conversation not only to the American people.

But to Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill who -- interest in having a meaningful conversation.

Yesterday was nothing more than a dog and pony show they checked the box yet we met with the NRA they had no interest in hearing what we had to say.

And that's unfortunate given that the seriousness of the situation -- face.

And quickly before I let go can you just clarify for those -- and understand what you said about.

The mental health at the records getting more connected to the background checks how it how could that be done sure.

It won't the background check system was set up to prevent people who shouldn't get access to -- arms from getting access.

Violent criminals dishonorably discharge from the military and mentally adjudicated -- court.

As mentally defective about half the states don't put those now.

The middle defective records into the system.

We supported legislation in the past include those records we call on congress to demand the states put those records and but -- and let's not forget that the best background check system in the world.

Is not gonna -- prevent someone.

From committing an evil -- so what can we do right now immediately to protect our kids at school security and it's addressing a broken mental health system.

Chris Cox thanks a lot for being here we appreciate it thanks -- all of us.

Taking your thoughts on it right now follow me on Twitter at -- Kelly let me know what you think about the issue.

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