memeorandum: N.R.A. Leaders Stand Firm Against Gun Restrictions (Eric Lichtblau/The Caucus)

Top Items:

David Gregory Shocked By NRA's LaPierre: You Fly In The Face Of Common Sense — During Sunday's Meet the Press, the National Rifle Association's Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre sat down with host David Gregory and defended his organization's universally panned call for armed guards …

Discussion: The Impolitic and The Raw Story

Ross Douthat / New York Times:

Bloomberg, LaPierre and the Void — FOR a week after the Newtown shooting, the conversation was dominated by the self-righteous certainties of the American center-left. In print and on the airwaves, the chorus was nearly universal: the only possible response to Adam Lanza's rampage …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Brad DeLong

Andrew Kirell / Mediaite:

Riled Up David Gregory Hammers Wayne LaPierre Over NRA Position On Gun Laws — Nine days after the massacre in Newtown, Conn., National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre made his first official press appearance, taking questions from NBC's David Gregory on Meet the Press.

Discussion: Towleroad News #gay

New York Times:

The Scourge of Concealed Weapons — As the nation's leaders devise new gun control strategies following the Connecticut shooting, they should look for ways to strengthen state laws that govern the possession and use of firearms. In too many states, these laws are weak and, in some cases, seem almost designed to encourage violence.

Discussion: Flopping Aces, Right Wing News and Daily Kos

Eric Lichtblau / The Caucus:

N.R.A. Leaders Stand Firm Against Gun Restrictions — Leaders of the National Rifle Association said Sunday that they would fight any new gun restrictions introduced in Congress, and they made clear that they were not interested in working with President Obama to help develop a broad response to the Connecticut school massacre.

Evan McMorris-Santoro / Talking Points Memo:

Wayne LaPierre: If It's Crazy To Put More Guns In Schools, Then Call Me Crazy — In his first media appearance since the Friday press conference that drew outrage from gun control advocates, National Rifle Association vice president Wayne LaPierre once again made it clear Sunday on Meet …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, The Hinterland Gazette, Business Insider and The Raw Story

Michael Ono / ABCNEWS:

NRA Chief LaPierre: ‘Call Me Crazy’ — National Rifle Association (NRA) Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre speaks on Dec. 21, 2012, in Washington, DC, on the one-week anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

Discussion: CNN

Michael Kranish / Boston Globe:

The story behind Mitt Romney's loss in the presidential campaign to President Obama — (Associated Press photo of Mother Jones video) — You are reading this article for FREE courtesy of BostonGlobe.com. Get unlimited access. — It was two weeks before Election Day when Mitt Romney's …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake, The Impolitic, The Political Carnival, Washington Examiner, PERRspectives, PoliticusUSA, Booman Tribune, The Hill, Mediaite, Gawker, The Other McCain and Outside the Beltway

Candice M. Giove / New York Post:

Ryan Lanza mourns Newtown shooter sibling and mom, claims he's a victim — Newtown killer Adam Lanza, who shot dead his mother, six other adults and 20 children, is badly missed by his brother. — “I am a victim,” Ryan Lanza, 24, told The Post yesterday in a Facebook chat. “I loss [sic] my mom and brother.”

Discussion: The Hinterland Gazette, Mediaite, TMZ.com and WTVR-TV

Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:

Sen. Barrasso: Obama sees a ‘political victory’ in going over the cliff — Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Sunday he thinks President Obama wants to dive over the so-called “fiscal cliff.” — “I believe the president is eager to go over the cliff for political purposes,” Barrasso told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

Discussion: Politico and CNN

Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:

Isakson would back bill to extend middle-class rates if ‘only choice’ left — GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) on Sunday said he would be willing to vote for a “fiscal cliff” solution that only prevented tax rises on the middle class if it was the only option left.

Discussion: Politico

Carlo Muñoz / The Hill:
LaTourette: ‘Plan B’ failure not a rebuke of Boehner's ‘leadership’

Discussion: CNN

Dave Warner Kevin Murphy / Reuters:

Gun enthusiasts pack shows to buy assault weapons — (Reuters) - Gun enthusiasts thronged to shows around the country on Saturday to buy assault weapons they fear will soon be outlawed after a massacre of school children in Connecticut prompted calls for tighter controls on firearms.

Discussion: The Daily Caller and Little Green Footballs