« It seems crazy to put their liberties on the chopping block after the systemic failures of government. »
NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch went on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday morning to talk gun control and hit back at critics calling the group a “terrorist organization,” and things got a bit awkward when she was asked about background checks.
Loesch began the interview by slamming critics who have been calling for more gun control measures after the shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed. She voiced the NRA’s position opposing increases to the minimum age requirements for buying guns and blamed federal law enforcement for failing to prevent mass shootings.
“We are talking about punishing innocent millions, millions of law-abiding gun owners for the failures of government to enforce the laws that exist that would have prevented this tragedy,” Loesch said, adding that “it seems crazy to put their liberties on the chopping block after the systemic failures of government.”
Loesch also showed she wasn’t too happy about Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) calling the NRA a “terrorist organization.”
“So are you a terrorist?” Steve Doocy sarcastically asked.
“I’m not going to be shamed for it by the Connecticut governor or anyone else that wants to smear me or anyone as terrorists because we disagree with him and we have a different way of protecting our family,” Loesch said.
While her statements were met with general agreement on the show, things got a bit awkward when co-host Brian Kilmeade asked about background checks.
“But you’re not against universal background checks, though, right?” he asked.
Cue crickets and uncomfortable silence.
“Like the ones that failed in California?” Loesch responded.
She pivoted on the question, focusing on the failure of background checks and stressed the NRA’s support for laws that are already in place. She added that states need to do a better job of reporting criminals to the National Crime Information Center.
