NRA Executive Warns of 'Fire Sale' of American Liberties
By Jim Burns
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
February 01, 2002

Arlington, Va. (CNSNews.com) - Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, "social and political marketers" have tried to take advantage of the tragedy by pushing for "more government regulation, intrusion and expansion," according to Wayne LaPierre, executive vice-president of the National Rifle Association.

But LaPierre Friday urged an audience of conservatives to fight for their freedom, which he said is "the first bargaining chip of a scared people."

"It's always a losing bet," LaPierre said, referring to the trade-off between individual freedoms and more public security. "I'm here to say, don't do it," LaPierre thundered during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Arlington, Va.

"We've witnessed a fire sale of American liberties at bargain basement prices, in return for the false promise of more security," LaPierre said.

LaPierre believes all levels of government have gone overboard in beefing up security and the American people have suffered a loss of freedom, especially at many of the nation's airports.

"No one is any safer and we know it, but everyone is delayed, defiled and demeaned. And when it doesn't work, where will it stop? When we're all naked? Boarding planes in airport issued hospital smocks? Who are we fooling? Terrorists fit into fairly narrow categories of gender, age, nationality and religion," LaPierre said.

LaPierre thinks if anybody should lose their individual freedoms, it should be illegal aliens and not "my mother, your daughter, pilots or war heroes."

"If anyone deserves a little extra security after September 11th, it ought to be a few million illegal aliens. And we shouldn't have to x-ray, frisk and humiliate honest Americans to justify it," LaPierre said.

He also warned conservatives to avoid complacency, even with Republican George W. Bush occupying the White House.

"I have great respect for this administration. But it doesn't mean I have to agree with confiscating nail clippers from grandmothers and poking magnetic wands up skirts. Maybe you think that with President George W. Bush in the White House, everything is safe. If we, as conservatives, don't stand up for these fundamental truths, who will?"

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