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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 9:31 PM UTC

Wayne LaPierre: Why bother with background checks?

LaPierre will speak out against universal background checks in a Senate hearing Wednesday

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Topics: Wayne LaPierre, NRA, Senate Judiciary Committee, Gun Violence, Gun Control,

Wayne LaPierre: Why bother with background checks? (Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s Executive Vice President, plans to rail against universal background checks during his testimony Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. ”When it comes to the issue of background checks, let’s be honest – background checks will never be ‘universal’ – because criminals will never submit to them,” he plans to say.

LaPierre is one of several speakers set to testify before the Senate in a gun violence hearing on Wednesday, which will also include Mark Kelly, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ husband, Baltimore’s Chief of Police, and other expert witnesses.

On Tuesday the NRA sent out LaPierre’s planned remarks ahead of the hearing, which include his opposition to universal background checks, and another call for armed guards in schools. “It’s time to throw an immediate blanket of security around our children.  About a third of our schools have armed security already – because it works. And that number is growing,” LaPierre plans to say.

“Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals. Nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families,” the prepared remarks say.

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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