NRA head: Gun control advocates 'exploiting' Florida tragedy

The head of the most powerful gun lobby in the US has accused Democrats and media of "exploiting" a school shooting that left 17 people dead.

Wayne LaPierre said "opportunists" are using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights.

Mr LaPierre's comments came during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.

He also echoed President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers who have been trained to carry concealed weapons.

"As usual, the opportunists waited not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain," said Mr LaPierre, who is the executive director and CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said, referring to the second amendment in the US constitution, which governs the "right to keep and bear arms".

His comments were the powerful gun lobby's first more than a week after an alleged gunman opened fire on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and killed 17 people.

Mr LaPierre lambasted the FBI for failing to follow up on a tip about the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, before the attack.

He also criticised America's "European-style socialists" who are calling for more gun control.



"They don't care if their laws work or not," Mr LaPierre. "They just want to get more laws to get more control over people. But the NRA, the NRA does care."

Survivors of last week's deadly shooting have renewed calls for stricter gun laws, prompting the nationwide activist movement #NeverAgain.

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Mr LaPierre condemned Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chris Murphy, saying they were "eager to smear" the NRA and blame the organisation for country's mass shootings.