Wayne LaPierre, the NRA leader, at the CPAC conference earlier this year, lambasted the mayors of Chicago and New York for recent increases in gun violence: Guns don't kill people, people kill people, so don't blame the availability of guns. When stated forcefully, it makes momentary sense.

Of course the fact that the country is flooded with easily and legally purchased weapons makes it easy for people in strong gun control states like New York and New Jersey to fall victim to illegal firearms. We recognize that the existence of such an arsenal cannot be wished away. And we are not going to send the police door to door to seize weapons, as some Second Amendment adherents fear.