[12/11/1996–09/23/1997]: 42-t-26444785-20060476F-001-002-2013

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MR. LAPIERRE: But
MR. DONALDSON: Let's let George get in here.
MR. WILL: Well, before going on to the next question, respond to Ms.
Brady's point about those numbers.
MR. LAPIERRE: Sarah, I'm all -- we're all for -- the NRA is all for the
check, but that argument just doesn't wash. I mean, that is the, simplest
technology we have available. You simply take the records off paper and
computerize them, If we don't do that, even if there is a check at the
local level, police officers are on their hands and knees going through.
paper files. '
MS. BRADY: But in states like West Virginia, where they're still in
shoeboxes, it's taking time to ,get them up. That's -
MR. LAPIERRE: Congress has appropriated a half a billion dollars to get
it done.
MR. WILL: Mr. LaPierre, let's not talk about the technology for a
moment. Let's talk about Ms. Brady's point,which is that yournumbe~ that
seven have been prosecuted ?nd three convicted, is not the relevant
question. The question is how many·felons have been stopped from getting
guns? Do you dispute her measure of the effectiveness of the law?
MR. LAPIERRE: Well, I would say, . unless you'prosecute, you probably
haven't stopped any, because almost all felons buy their guns illegally
anyway. And the few that are dumb enough to go into a gun store -
,MS. BRADY: Now Wayne ...
MR. LAPIERRE: -:- and get flagged, if you don't prosecute them, they're
simply going and getting a gun illegally and about committing their
crime, We are in favor of the check. I'll join with Sarah. And. I've
already talked to Speaker Gingrich and Majority Leader Lott. They're
willing to meet this week, go down to the WhiteHouse. Let's go down
together and let's do whatever it takes to get the national instant ,check'
on line. It's the only way under the Supreme Court decision there will be
a ch~ck. .
MR. WILL: Ms. Brady, what is your position? What do they qo when
they're turned away at the gun dealer? Do say, "Heck, I can't get a
gun, " and go home?
MS. BRADY: That's exactly what happens and -- except for the ones in
which -- and there have been many prosecutions of this type.-"where there
is a felony warrant out for their arrest and that's discovered at that
point. Then this is not an arrest, on Brady bill line on the form. is
where you discover during the background check,so~and-so has 1
they're wanted for murder or domestic abuse or something, and they are
then arrested and prosecuted. And there have been numerous of these that
have happened, and is a totally different type of prosecution.
MR. LAPIERRE: I agree with that. The only way you'll get yourself
prosecuted, the way it's been working, is if the U.S. attorneys want you
for something el.se., Then they'll prosecute you, but that's· not good enough.
MS. BRADY: And that's what but the purpose of the background check
is very simple. It is to stop illegal purchases, and. that's what it has
been doing. It does no more or no less.
MS. DOUGLASS: Mr. I:.aPierre', what is your opposition in the first place
or the grounds for the opposition to the five-day waiting period? Why is
it so important for someone.to be able·to go down and immediately get 'a
gun?
MR. LAPIERRE: Well, under every scenario, including the Brady bill,
keep in mind, the wait disappears. It.was simply an interim measure. But
the best is an example in Virginia, where you had a woman wh9se
ex-boyfriend said he was going to kill her. She went out that day,bought
a gun through the instant check; she was checked out and she, was .a
law-abiding citizen. That night, he broke down her door, tried to kill
her, came at her with a machete. She saved her life by having a gun .. You
had another, a 911 call in L.A., where a woman called 911 ani:l said my .
ex-boyfriend's trying to kill me. They said over the tape on 911, "We
can't do anything until he gets there." Well, ·he got there and he killed
her.
MS. DOUGLASS: So which of the concerns is most important,' the ability
to immediately get a'gun to protect yourself, forget the police -
MR. LAPIERRE: That's pretty important.
MS. DOUGLASS: -- or the ability to keep a gun out of the hands of a
criminal?
MR. LAPIERRE: Well, the way you do that is the national instant check.
Under the Supreme Court decision, it's the only way we're going to have a
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