The head of the powerful US gun lobby, Wayne LaPierre, has challenged President Barack Obama to an hour-long televised debate on gun control.
The head of the powerful US gun lobby, Wayne LaPierre, has challenged President Barack Obama to an hour-long televised debate on gun control.
Mr LaPierre on Thursday threw down the gauntlet in a video posted on the National Rifle Association website, a week after the lobbying group rebuffed Mr Obama’s invitation to debate the issues during a CNN town hall-style meeting January 7.
In the video, Mr LaPierre scornfully dismissed the President’s original offer before laying down his own debate challenge.
“The President’s calculation is clear: destroy the NRA before the election so Hillary (Clinton) can destroy the second amendment after it. That’s why we won’t get suckered into any of Obama’s fixed fights,” he said.
“But I’ll tell you what: I’ll meet you for a one-on-one one hour debate with a mutually agreed upon moderator on any network that will take it,” he said.
“No pre-screened questions and no gas bag answers. Americans will judge for themselves who they trust and believe on this issue: you or the NRA. Let’s see if you’re game for a fair debate.”
