A secret tape made after Columbine shows the NRA's evolution on
school shootings
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1049054141
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
“The Columbine High School shooting back in 1999 killed 13 people in a
Colorado high school. Two teenagers were responsible. In the hours and
days that followed, leaders of the National Rifle Association huddled in private
to debate how to react. And today we want to play for you never-before-heard
recordings of those meetings. Here's the NRA's top official Wayne
LaPierre and lobbyist Marion Hammer discussing whether to cancel their annual
meeting, scheduled only days later in nearby Denver.”
MAK: They're talking about what's called annual members meeting. It's an unscripted event where the NRA supporters can propose resolutions or make speeches from the floor. And it's clear the NRA's top leaders feared it would get out of control after Columbine. The next bit I want to play comes from Hammer.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
HAMMER: If you pull down the exhibit hall, that's not going to leave anything for the media except the members meeting. And you're going to have the wackos with all kinds of crazy resolutions, with all kinds of dressing like a bunch of hillbillies and idiots. [To mluvi o vas gun loving, pomatenych revolucionarich 😊😊.) And it's going to be the worst thing you can imagine.

