Former FBI Director James Comey accused the National Rifle Association of lying to the American people and called for lawmakers to pass stricter gun regulations.

Comey criticized the NRA in an exclusive interview with iNews on Friday, urging people to see through their “lies” in order to pass so-called life-saving gun legislation. (RELATED: Grassley Blasts Comey For Skipping Yet Another Senate Hearing [VIDEO])

“One of the worst things that goes on in the U.S. is the current voice of the National Rifle Association because it sells fear in the wake of any incident,” Comey said. “The reason gun sales spiked to incredible rates after [the Sandy Hook, Connecticut, shooting in 2012] is the NRA turned around in the wake of that and said, ‘They’re coming for your guns.’ They sold fear to the American people.”

Contrarily, the increase in gun sales following high-profile shootings is commonly thought to stem from the fear that politicians will overreact to these extraordinary events by enacting stricter gun regulations. The best proxy for gun sales at any time is the frequency of federal background checks, however, the system doesn’t account for private sales.

“[The NRA’s] constant argument is ‘It’s a slippery slope. If we restrict a particular kind of weapon or raise the age of purchase, it means the end of gun ownership in the U.S.’ and that argument is a lie,” Comey told iNews. “There’s no slippery slope in America when it comes to guns. It’s a concrete staircase, which is our constitution.”

Comey tried to justify his position. “I’m comfortable around guns. I own guns,” he said.

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