Connecticut Gov Dannel Malloy calls NRA, Wayne LaPierre ‘clowns at a circus’
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy harshly criticized gun industry lobbyists on Sunday, saying they are doing too little to halt gun violence.
Dannel Malloy signed the new gun controls into law. Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA News Photo
The governor compared Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, to clowns and said lobbyists want to ensure that the industry can sell guns indiscriminately.
“Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus,” Malloy said of LaPierre on CNN’s “State of the Union.” ”They get the most attention and that’s what he’s paid to do.”
Representatives of the NRA did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
“What this is about is the ability of the gun industry to sell as many guns to as many people as possible even if they’re deranged, even if they’re mentally ill, even if they have a criminal background,” Malloy said. “They don’t care. They want to sell guns.”
Robert Crook, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition of Sportsmen, a lobbying group, said Malloy’s criticism was “absolutely false.”
“It’s another political statement from a governor with little knowledge,” he said.
Connecticut’s gun industry supports a gun trafficking task force and tighter background checks of buyers, Crook said.
A spokesman for Malloy said the governor was criticizing lobbyists, not the gun industry. Malloy has said he wants Connecticut’s large gun industry to remain in the state, though gun manufacturers say the new restrictions will hurt their business.
“People are welcome to stay in our state as long as they’re producing a product that can be sold in the United States legally,” Malloy said.
You mean Wayne LaPiere isn’t a clown? I’m so sad