Columbus, Ohio, Assault Weapons Ban Greater Tragedy to NRA Than Columbine Massacre, NRA's Wayne LaPierre Reveals

Washington, DC�Following today's announcement by National Rifle Association (NRA) Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre that in reaction to Columbus, Ohio's recent City Council vote to ban assault weapons the NRA would move its 2007 annual meeting, the Violence Policy Center released the following statement from Executive Director Josh Sugarmann:

"Today's announcement confirms that to the National Rifle Association, the Columbus, Ohio, assault weapons ban is a far greater tragedy than the Columbine assault weapons massacre. For those who had any doubt, it is clear that for the NRA, guns are more important than children, and an assault weapons ban is a greater tragedy than an assault weapons massacre. In 1999, following the Columbine assault weapons massacre, which left 15 dead and 23 wounded, Denver, Colorado, leaders asked the NRA not to hold their annual meeting scheduled for Denver out of respect for the victims and the trauma that engulfed the city and state following the shooting. The NRA's response was to ignore these pleas. Now, when Columbus, Ohio, votes to ban the very guns used in the Columbine massacre, the NRA acts almost immediately to move its meeting."

The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.