# Wayne LaPierre Goes On Harpooning Spree To Prove Some Sort Of Point (theonion.com)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 23, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146 "2013-01-23T20:27:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/1 "2013-01-23T20:27:39Z")
This gave me a laugh. It’s _The Onion_ so obviously it’s satire. (Note that the link has a photoshopped picture that possibly could upset a sensitive person.)
["]Wayne LaPierre Goes On Harpooning Spree To Prove Some Sort Of Point]([http://www.theonion.com/articles/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-s,30947/?fb\_action\_ids=585400251486012&fb\_action\_types=og.likes&fb\_source=timeline\_og&action\_object\_map={“585400251486012”%3A238231772977622}&action\_type\_map={“585400251486012”%3A"og.likes"}&action\_ref\_map=](http://www.theonion.com/articles/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-s,30947/?fb_action_ids=585400251486012&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%22585400251486012%22%3A238231772977622%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22585400251486012%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=)[)
> [@](#):
>
> “As you can see, the question of what object a mentally ill person uses to harm another human being is not the issue, but rather a distraction designed to curtail the American people’s constitutionally protected right to bear firearms,” said the National Rifle Association vice president as he stabbed an innocent bystander in the chest with an 8-foot whaling harpoon in order to, reportedly, illustrate a thesis of sorts.
["]More]([http://www.theonion.com/articles/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-s,30947/?fb\_action\_ids=585400251486012&fb\_action\_types=og.likes&fb\_source=timeline\_og&action\_object\_map={“585400251486012”%3A238231772977622}&action\_type\_map={“585400251486012”%3A"og.likes"}&action\_ref\_map=](http://www.theonion.com/articles/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-s,30947/?fb_action_ids=585400251486012&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%22585400251486012%22%3A238231772977622%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22585400251486012%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=)[)
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/2 "2013-01-23T20:44:33Z")
I’m getting “Bad Gateway” errors for both of your links. Might just be my PC but FYI.
Funny headline though.
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/3 "2013-01-23T20:51:08Z")
… along with **Gorilla Sales Skyrocket After Latest Gorilla Attack**
I’d love to hang around the Onion’s water cooler.
---
### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/4 "2013-01-23T23:16:04Z")
From the OP’s linked Onion article:
“A harpoon, much like a rifle, is a tool used primarily for hunting, and yet many of our nation’s lawmakers insist upon drawing a legal distinction between the two. You see the point I’m making here, yes?”
This is surprisingly similar to remarks that LaPierre has actually said. I heard a mini-debate on the radio several years ago, between him and (IIRC) the governor of some eastern state (W. Va. maybe?) where there had been some cops shot recently. It was on one of the Sunday in-depth news shows (Meet the Press or one of those types), moderated by one of the well-known big-name news anchors of the day. (Sorry, I don’t remember much detail.)
The question was asked, of course, about regulating or banning high-capacity assault weapons, vs. handguns. LaPierre absolutely dug in his heels and resolutely refused to acknowledge any distinction. Guns are for self-defense and sporting (hunting, etc.), he insisted. The moderator persisted in this line of questioning for a while, and LaPierre utterly refused to budge on that. He just totally refused to admit that assault weapons were any different than handguns.
Largely for that specific attitude, but also for his overall line of argument in that debate, I concluded that LaPierre is a psychopath. His more recent public pronouncements have certainly confirmed that conclusion for me.
---
### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/5 "2013-01-24T00:55:06Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#):
>
> I’m getting “Bad Gateway” errors for both of your links. Might just be my PC but FYI.
>
> Funny headline though.
They’re both the same link and they work fine for me. I’m not sure what your problem is. Maybe they were having server problems. Try again.
---
### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wayne-lapierre-goes-on-harpooning-spree-to-prove-some-sort-of-point-theonion-com/648146/6 "2013-01-24T01:01:14Z")
> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> Largely for that specific attitude, but also for his overall line of argument in that debate, I concluded that LaPierre is a psychopath. His more recent public pronouncements have certainly confirmed that conclusion for me.
The fake quote has him admitting his insanity.
> [@](#):
>
> “As you can see, the question of what object a mentally ill person uses to harm another human being is not the issue, but rather a distraction designed to curtail the American people’s constitutionally protected right to bear firearms,” said the National Rifle Association vice president as he stabbed an innocent bystander in the chest with an 8-foot whaling harpoon in order to, reportedly, illustrate a thesis of sorts.