NRA responds to Orlando shooting

As politicians look for something to blame besides the Orlando gunman, the National Rifle Association’s leadership point their fingers at President Obama, Hillary Clinton and “political correctness.”

“They are desperate to create the illusion that they’re doing something to protect us because their policies can’t and won’t keep us safe. This transparent head-fake should scare every American, because it will do nothing to prevent the next attack,” said Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, in an Op-Ed published by USA Today on June 14.

“Unfortunately, the Obama administration’s political correctness prevented anything from being done about it,” he added, criticizing the FBI for not arresting the gunman in the past and the President’s avoidance to use the phrase “radical Islam” to describe the attack.

Waiting roughly 48 hours to respond, Cox stuck to a familiar script listing perceived failures of gun control measures such as an Assault Weapons Ban, a broad and often ill-conceived idea frequently proposed after a mass shooting.

Cox was also critical of the FBI for not stopping the gunman, despite the agency not having tangible evidence to make an arrest.

Since the incident, the FBI revealed agents investigated the gunman in the past after receiving tips about comments he had made regarding alleged connections to terror groups. However, after the 10-month investigation involving interviewing him and gathering intel through confidential informants, wiretaps and other methods, the FBI determined his claims were contradicting and his alleged connects were more or less inflammatory comments.

“It’s time for us to admit that radical Islam is a hate crime waiting to happen. The only way to defeat them is to destroy them — not destroy the right of law-abiding Americans to defend ourselves,” Cox said.