The main thrust of LaPierre's policy address was that individuals who commit crimes with guns need to be more adequately prosecuted -- a tough argument to disagree with. But in the face of the Littleton tragedy, at a time when all Americans, especially those here in Denver, are trying to figure out how to prevent future Littletons, LaPierre's focus on prosecuting criminals after they've already committed gun crimes seemed woefully irrelevant.

"We believe freedom should never be diminished for those who abide by the law," he said. "Freedom should only be diminished for those who break the law." Translated into English, this means that the NRA will continue to fight against even the slightest legislative inconvenience for gun owners. "There is no evidence waiting periods work," he added, "and if there is authority to say one gun a month, there will eventually be authority to say none."

LaPierre even mentioned that his organization has been asked -- "incredibly," he says -- whether it would support conducting background checks for the purchase of explosives. "We would not oppose such a background check," he said, extending the NRA's version of an olive branch, "as long as it does not include the traditional reloading powders used by millions of budget-minded hobbyists."

One of the more relevant federal legislative proposals floated since the Columbine disaster would place new restrictions on firearms sold at gun shows, where background checks aren't currently required and dealers don't have to be federally licensed, the way retail gun stores do. Eastern Colorado's premiere gun show, the Tanner Gun Show, is where one of Rep. DeGette's staffers purchased a semiautomatic Norinco 7.62-by-39 mm rifle in June 1998 with no identification and nothing more than $450 cash on hand.

It is also where 18-year-old Robyn Anderson is said to have purchased a rifle and two shotguns on behalf of her prom date, Dylan Klebold, and his friend Eric Harris.

But, apparently anticipating questions as to whether the NRA would support greater regulations for guns sold at gun shows, LaPierre's blood began to boil. "We will consider instant checks at gun shows when, and only when, this administration stops demanding new gun taxes and stops illegally compiling the records of millions of lawful gun buyers."

In other words, never.

After LaPierre finished his speech, Heston, the beloved crowd pleaser, took to the stage to deliver his closing remarks. With his characteristically enunciated gravelly basso, Heston decried the "savage vilification" he and his fellow gun enthusiasts had been forced to contend with since the April 20 slaughter. "Why us?" he asked. "Because this story needs a villain. They want us to play the heavy in their drama of packaged grief, to provide riveting programming to run between commercials for cars and cat food." He affirmed his organization's "steady beacon of support for the Second Amendment, even if it has no other friend on this planet." With that, Heston and the NRA cleared out of the hotel to make room for Saturday's night's Ponderosa High School prom, also being held in the hotel.

Whatever public relations disaster the NRA seems to regard itself as suffering at the hands of an evil media cabal, Heston, LaPierre & co. can take comfort in winning over at least one new supporter as a result of the tragedy at Columbine High.

"The slant the media's been giving the whole thing's been giving the NRA a black eye," said 39-year-old cabinet finisher Isaac Badgerow, a convention attendee, Denver resident and new convert to the church of Guns & Ammo. "They're trying to take away people's rights." Badgerow says he looks forward to joining the NRA, though he admits that his membership will be more of a political statement than anything else.

He can never legally own a gun, you see. He's a convicted felon.

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