Gun Company Calls For Boycott of Liam Neeson After Anti-Gun Comments

[Divernan]

58. He also called out the NRA for its "crazy" response to Sandy Hook/Newtown

“I am totally for gun control in the US,” he says. “The population of America is roughly 300 million and there are 300 million guns in this country, which is terrifying. Every day we’re seeing some kid running rampant in a school. And do you know what the gun lobby’s response to Newtown was?” he asks, referring to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which left 20 children dead in December 2012.

“The National Rifle Association’s official response was ‘If that teacher had been armed…’ It’s crazy. I’ll give Britain its dues, when they had the Dunblane massacre in Scotland, within 24 hours the gun laws were changed so you could not have a handgun."

Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, but a resident of New York, Neeson became a US citizen five years ago in the wake of the death of his wife, Natasha Richardson, in a freak skiing accident in 2009. The actor cites the outpouring of goodwill from Americans as one of the main reasons for his decision. Part of the naturalisation process involves a test on US civics; Neeson, therefore, understands the Constitution as well as anyone. “It is the right to bear arms which is the problem. I think if the Founding Fathers knew what was happening they would be turning in their graves with embarrassment at how that law has been interpreted,” he says, in reference to the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/liam-neeson-interview-hard-man-actor-on-bono-ralph-fiennes-and-his-fear-of-guns-9728838.html

The linked interview (from last fall), with anecdotes about his 2 teenage sons, life in NYC and his friends, Ralph Fiennes and Bono, is well worth a read, and illustrates what a delightful human being he is. He's into yoga with Fiennes and re Bono:

And then there is fellow Irishman Bono, with whom Neeson is developing a film. “We chat, or with him a lot of the time I just listen. He’s a wonderful man. He’s got an idea for a script which we’ve been working on for the past six years,” he says, going on to outline the story, which is inspired by the Irish showband phenomenon of the Seventies.

And eat your hearts out, fans - I was having dinner with my NYC daughter one summer evening at Cafe des Artistes, when whom did we see at the table catty-corner from ours but Natasha Richardson and a lady friend, who were then joined for dinner by Liam Neeson. The storied old New York restaurant had a subdued, romantic lighting which made it a good place for celebrities to enjoy good food, largely unobserved. I didn't even notice the Neesons until my dtr., whispered, "Now, don't stare, Mom! but that's Liam Neeson. I made do with an occasional discreet glance - but I can tell you he & his wife looked so happy and relaxed together - sweet actually.