The National Rifle Association released a video Tuesday in which the organization’s executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, explains some little-known facts about the NRA’s history with background checks – namely, that the group of gun-rights enthusiasts has always encouraged the practice, but is often thwarted by the system.
In the video, LaPierre claims the problem of guns ending up in the hands of people with criminal histories isn’t the lack of background checks, or the fact that gun sellers don’t conduct them. It’s the fact that many state databases aren’t complete, and don’t contain the names of millions of people who shouldn’t legally have access to a firearm, he says.
So even though the gun dealer may run the background check, he explains, the person comes back clean.
LaPierre also slams the media for not explaining the facts about background check databases.
“If they really wanted to make a difference, the media would lead every newscast with a reminder that the names of millions of violent felons, criminal gangbangers and adjudicated, mentally incompetent and dangerous people are missing from the background check system,” LaPierre claimed.
“But no one gets ratings from telling the truth about how to stop mass killings,” he added.
Check out LaPierre’s argument, as well as some other interesting tidbits regarding the NRA’s involvement in the national background check system, in the video below: