Statement From the National Rifle Association of America Regarding Governor Markell’s Press Conference

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association of America is made up of over 4 million moms and dads, daughters and sons, including tens of thousands of Delawareans, who have reacted to the tragedy in Newtown with a ardent determination to protect our children. We are supporting common sense initiatives that will provide instant results including boosting school safety with armed guards, better reporting of mental health issues, and a strict enforcement of our state's and nation's myriad of gun laws.

Governor Markell is not as interested in protecting our children as he is in pushing the anti-gun agenda he first announced in his 2008 campaign.

Not only is he rejecting the Supreme Court's repeated ruling that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental, individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms, but his proposals directly violate Article I Section 20 of the Delaware Constitution which says, "A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use." The law-abiding people of Delaware who responsibly exercise their right to own a gun are being demonized by Governor Markell and the Delaware lawmakers pushing this pervasive anti-gun agenda. Proposals which outlaw commonly-owned modern hunting and competitive shooting rifles, make it impossible to operate firearms in a manner suitable for self-defense, and which criminalize the traditions and hunting heritage of a father passing a gun to his child will be strongly opposed.

We will not accept failed policies as a line of defense between our children and potential madmen. We will not sit idly by while honest, law-abiding gun owners are blamed for the actions of those madmen. The NRA and our members remain committed to common sense initiatives which will protect our children now.

-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NationalRifleAssociation and on Twitter @NRA.