NRA President David Keene has launched a spirited defense of Wayne LaPierre, saying the latest fiery missive from his tough-talking number two proves he’s “a champion’’ of the Second Amendment rights.

“He’s built the NRA into the most effective gun rights organization in the history of the United States and it’s my hope that he’ll be there to lead us for a long time to come,’’ Keene told Newsmax TV in an exclusive interview.

In a controversial opinion piece in The Daily Caller, LaPierre said Americans “will buy more guns than ever. We will use them for sport and lawful self-defense more than ever … We will Stand and Fight."

LaPierre noted in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, “we saw the hellish world that the gun prohibitionists see as their utopia. Looters ran wild in south Brooklyn …

“Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Riots. Terrorists. Gangs. Lone criminals. These are perils we are sure to face—not just maybe. It’s not paranoia to buy a gun. It’s survival. It’s responsible behavior.’’

It’s language some TV pundits immediately called reactionary, racially-tinged and bordering on lunatic, but which Keene is in complete agreement with.

“After Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans the police attempted to confiscate firearms in the hands of ordinary law-abiding citizens who needed them to protect their homes,’’ Keene said.

“We had to go to court down there and eventually the court said you can’t take these firearms away from people, particularly at a time when law and order has broken down …’’

Keene dismissed MSNBC host and ex-GOP congressman Joe Scarborough’s on-air rant that LaPierre’s editorial was a post-apocalyptic and racially-tinged description of an America run by gun prohibitionists. “Joe is an entertainer and he gets a little carried away with himself sometimes,’’ Keene said.

“Before the election, [Scarborough’s MSBNC colleague] Chris Matthews … says that Wayne LaPierre was insane for suggesting — for even suggesting — that a re-elected Barack Obama would ever threaten firearms rights.

“We predicted that if he were re-elected … he was going to find some reason to go after Second Amendment rights. Newtown gave him that reason and he’s used it to the fullest extent possible.’’

Keene also ripped President Obama’s adviser David Plouffe, who called LaPierre’s editorial “delusional’’ and hinted he should no longer call the shots at the NRA.

“I don’t think Mr. Plouffe is a member of the National Rifle Association and I don’t think he gets to vote for our officers,’’ Keene said.

“And he certainly doesn’t get to vote on the question or have a voice in the question of who the officers selected to be CEO and executive vice president.’’