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Comedian Jason Selvig received plaudits online after he trolled Wayne LaPierre, the head of the National Rifle Association (NRA), following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Selvig is one half of The Good Liars, a comedy duo known for lampooning American politics with digs at Chick-fil-A, Scientology, Fox News, QAnon, the Trump family and former New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie.
Speaking at the NRA's annual meeting, Selvig thanked LaPierre for all of the times he’s offered his “thoughts and prayers’ following mass shootings, pointing to the organizations abject opposition to stricter gun control measures that could limit the number of mass shootings taking place nationwide.
Much of the crowd did not realize that Selvig's appearance was a prank–and even applauded.
You can watch the encounter in the video below.
\u201cWe spoke directly to Wayne LaPierre at the NRA Convention and thanked him for all his thoughts and prayers.\u201d— The Good Liars (@The Good Liars) 1653858572
Selvig began by introducing himself:
"My name is Jason Selvig and I'm from West Palm Beach, Florida and I would like to say that I am sick and tired of the leftwing media and frankly, people in this room today, spreading misinformation about Wayne LaPierre whenever there is a mass shooting.”
He then turned his attention to LaPierre, whom he skewered directly by pointing to all the times the NRA head has called for "thoughts and prayers" following high profile mass shootings such as the ones that took place at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech in 2007:
"They all say that Wayne LaPierre isn't doing enough to stop these mass shootings and even implying that Wayne LaPierre has played a part in making it easier for these shooters to get guns, to get weapons."
"You heard it after Las Vegas, you heard it after Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, you heard it after Columbine, you heard it after Parkland, you heard it after Virginia Tech, you heard it after El Paso, you heard it after Buffalo, you kept hearing that Wayne LaPierre isn't doing enough and frankly, that's not true."
"The NRA, under Wayne LaPierre's leadership has provided thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families and maybe these mass shootings would stop happening if we all thought a little bit more and prayed a little bit more."
"I'm asking everyone in this room to think, to pray, give your thoughts and your prayers and your prayers and your thoughts.”
"And if we give enough of these thoughts and these prayers these mass shootings will stop. So I want to thank you Wayne LaPierre for all your thoughts and all your prayers."
The clip of the encounter soon went viral, catching the attention of gun control activist Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed during the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018.
Guttenberg called the stunt "absolutely brilliant" and a "must watch."
\u201cThis is absolutely brilliant. This guy thanked Wayne LaPierre for all of his "thoughts and prayers." A must watch.\u201d— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1653913896
Others also praised Selvig for his action and renewed their calls for a nationwide ban on assault weapons.
\u201cThank you for standing up at the #NRAconvention and saying what most Americans are thinking.\n\n#NRADomesticTerrorist\n#NRAownsGOP \n#RepublicansDontCare \n#BanAssultWeapons\n#VoteBlueToSaveOurKids \n#DemVoice1\n\n\ud83d\udcf9@TheGoodLiars\nhttps://t.co/LrJRJJcJM7\u201d— SHER She/Her ~Resists&Fights4Democracy (@SHER She/Her ~Resists&Fights4Democracy) 1653994134
\u201cLove this sarcasm. Proves that "thoughts and prayers" are useless by themselves, particularly when you're a person in a position of power that can change things for the good and still decides to do nothing.\u201d— Andie the Alien Kid \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udea9\ud83c\udff4\u24b6 (@Andie the Alien Kid \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udea9\ud83c\udff4\u24b6) 1654014372
\u201cThe most important point made by this prank is the knowledge that most of the audience had no idea it was a prank.\u201d— Chris Hahn (@Chris Hahn) 1653920854
\u201cMy thoughts and prayers, and prayers and thoughts, go out to this guy for one of the best droll trolls of all time.\u201d— howardfineman (@howardfineman) 1653929202
\u201cThis guy is pure f&$ing gold. It soon got very uncomfortable for LaPierre, as Selvig rattled off a lengthy list of mass shootings, then mockingly praised him for offering \u201cthoughts and prayers\u201d for each. WTF NRA?? #NRAIsATerroristOrganization #NRA #BanAssaultWeaponsNow\u201d— Bubby Sadie (@Bubby Sadie) 1653968410
\u201cNow this is exquisite satire.\u201d— Chris Roper (@Chris Roper) 1653992756
\u201cEvery word expertly crafted!\nMessage delivered and received!\u201d— BigBlueWaveUSA 2022 #StandWithUkraine \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@BigBlueWaveUSA 2022 #StandWithUkraine \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1653935880
\u201cThis is right up there with the bravest speeches given for gun safety.\n\nThe confused look on their faces is memorable. I\u2019m still not sure that they understood what hit them.\u201d— Rick \u2605 \u2122 - Beto For Texas! (@Rick \u2605 \u2122 - Beto For Texas!) 1653921690
LaPierre has found his time as the NRA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) mired in legal jeopardy.
He was forced to return nearly $300,000 to the NRA in repayment of illicit personal gains, according to a Washington Post report.
In the spring of 2021, a Texas judge denied the NRA's attempt to declare bankruptcy in an effort to avoid a lawsuit from the state of New York.
New York sued the NRA in August 2020, arguing misspending and corruption justified dissolving the organization for good.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a news conference at the time the lawsuit was announced the NRA "has operated as a breeding ground for greed, abuse and brazen illegality."