The head of the National Rifle Association, the top gun-rights lobbyist in the United States, says his group opposes any new laws restricting the right to own guns.

Wayne LaPierre told NBC television's Meet the Press Sunday that a gun is a tool and that the problem with gun violence in the United States is the criminal.

LaPierre has criticized the U.S. media for what he believes is a celebration of violence through movies and video games.

On the same broadcast, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer scoffed at LaPierre's comments. The New York senator said preventing gun violence without talking about guns is like trying to prevent lung cancer without talking about cigarettes.

Gun control has been the center of conversation across the United States since a mentally-ill suspect murdered 26 people, including 20 six- and seven year-olds, at a Connecticut elementary school on December 14th.

The gunman apparently had easy access to weapons from his mother's collection. She was also shot to death.

LaPierre is proposing having armed guards outside every U.S. public school — an idea which has brought both strong criticism and ridicule.

President Barack Obama has appointed Vice President Joe Biden to lead a panel to come up with new legislation aimed at strengthening the nation's gun laws.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. constitution proclaims the right of Americans to own firearms.