Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the National Rifle Association, praised gun owners for helping to elect Donald Trump president and for defeating Hillary Clinton.
In a video on the NRA's YouTube page, LaPierre said, "On Nov. 8, you, the five million men and women of the National Rifle Association of America, along with the tens of millions of gun owners all over this country who followed your lead, achieved a truly extraordinary, historic, even heroic accomplishment . . . you were the special forces that swung this election, and sent Donald Trump and Mike Pence to the White House."
The NRA leader rebuked "the same disgraced group of so-called experts" and said they were "once again" trying to deceive the NRA's members.
"So let me remove all doubt: Gun owners made this election happen."
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, "who made her hatred of the Second Amendment a central issue of this campaign" was not elected thanks to gun owners' efforts, LaPierre said.
"The result of that fatal mistake: She is on permanent political vacation," he added.
Gun owners stood up for historic freedoms and "proved the Founders right, that the ultimate check and balance in this country is the American people," the NRA leader said.
He also slammed "anti-gun" judges appointed by President Barack Obama, calling them "an infection for which there is no cure, other than time and vigilance." He said the liberal media "absolutely hates" gun owners' right to speak out.
Legislators must protect gun owners' rights, LaPierre said: "The individual right to carry a firearm in defense of our lives and our families does not and should not end at the state line. I call on Congress and the president-elect to pass national right-to-carry reciprocity as quickly as it can be written and signed."
The NRA endorsed Trump for president, and in October, LaPierre encouraged its members to support Trump and running mate Mike Pence.
"They will protect our firearm freedoms," LaPierre wrote.
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