Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy had some choice words for NRA chief Wayne La Pierre who has ridiculed the state’s new bill and whose all-out defense of guns has led to clashes between pro and anti-gun lobbies.

Malloy has signed the new and most restrictive gun bill in the nation into law.

Speaking on CNN Malloy said, "Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus. They get the most attention and that's what he's paid to do," Malloy said. "This guy is so out of whack, it’s unbelievable.

92% of the American people want universal background checks. I can’t get on a plane as the governor of the state of Connecticut without somebody running a background check on me. Why should you be able to buy a gun?"

The governor was responding head on to LaPierre’s criticism of  his state’s new gun law.

LaPierre said on Fox, “I think the problem with what Connecticut did, is the criminals, the drug dealers, the people that are going to do horror and terror, they aren’t going to cooperate. All you’re doing is making the law books thicker for the law-abiding people.”

Asked if he was worried that gun makers would move out of state, Malloy responded, “We’ve decided that public safety trumps all of that,” he told host Candy Crowley. “I hope they stay and manufacture products that can legally be sold. But if they leave, that will be a decision they make. We’re not making them leave.”