Well, That Didn’t Go Well

The Obama administration claimed that it would be listening to a wide variety of views in looking for solutions to mass shootings and other forms of violence. The administration invited the NRA to a meeting today with Joe Biden, Eric Holder and others. To the surprise of some–those who aren’t familiar with the NRA’s commitment to gun safety–the organization accepted the invitation. The meeting, however, did not go well. Following the meeting, the NRA issued this statement:

The National Rifle Association of America is made up of over 4 million moms and dads, daughters and sons, who are involved in the national conversation about how to prevent a tragedy like Newtown from ever happening again. We attended today’s White House meeting to discuss how to keep our children safe and were prepared to have a meaningful conversation about school safety, mental health issues, the marketing of violence to our kids and the collapse of federal prosecutions of violent criminals.

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, taxpaying, hardworking Americans. It is unfortunate that this Administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of congress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works – and what does not.

On one front after another, “our way or the highway” has been the Obama administration’s position. To some degree, this may represent post-reelection hubris. But mostly I think it reflects the fact that Obama and his minions don’t have much serious interest in governing. Even when there is nothing left to run for, politics is the only game they know, so that’s what they play.

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