Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association meditated on the Newtown slaughter for a week, then concluded it's the media, stupid. Well, all advanced countries -- Western Europe, Canada, etc. -- have access to our violent movies, TV and video games, but they have far lower gun murder rates. The reason? They have fewer guns and no assault weapons. Other countries -- Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Congo, Darfur, etc. -- have almost no access to violent media, but suffer astronomical murder rates. Reason: They have more guns.

Of course LaPierre knows this. Like those tobacco CEOs who swore under oath that cigarettes don't cause cancer, I believe he is a highly paid professional liar. NRA members, is this who you want as your spokesman?

Jack Frymire

Bellingham