NRA blames terrorists, not guns, in post-Orlando tweet storm
Gun control is once again a topic of fierce debate, after a man in Orlando killed 49 and injured more than 50 others in a shooting rampage at a gay club early Sunday morning.
But as Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, call for reforms to America's gun laws in the wake of the massacre, the National Rifle Association broke its silence Monday night to protest any laws that would restrict the right to buy or possess weapons.
Photos from the scene of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting
In a late-night tweet storm, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, blamed the shooting on terrorism, as the shooter was a Muslim American who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State before going on his rampage.
Gun Laws vs. Gun Deaths in Florida Graphiq
And Cox said any restrictions to gun ownership would only provide Americans with a sense of "false security," rather than actually keep Americans safe.
.@POTUS & @HillaryClinton have responded to a terrorist attack…by calling for more #guncontrol - @NRAILA Exec. Dir. Chris W. Cox
— NRA (@NRA) June 13, 2016
Cox said the focus on gun control after the attack was "an illusion" by politicians to make it seem like "they're doing SOMETHING to protect us."
They are desperate to create the illusion that they’re doing SOMETHING to protect us– even though their policies won't keep us safe - C.C.
— NRA (@NRA) June 13, 2016
He added that the focus on gun control after the shooting is a "head-fake" that "will do nothing to prevent the a future attack."
Their transparent head-fakes should scare every American because it will do nothing to prevent the a future attack. - C.C.
— NRA (@NRA) June 13, 2016
Cox also said gun owners are "done with being blamed for the acts of madmen and terrorists."
Law-abiding gun owners are done with being blamed for the acts of madmen and terrorists. - C.C.
— NRA (@NRA) June 14, 2016
It's in the NRA's interest to prevent any limitations to gun ownership.
To suggest that all we need is a new ban on “assault weapons” provides nothing but a dangerous sense of false security. - C.C.
— NRA (@NRA) June 14, 2016
A number of their members include gun retailers and manufacturers, who make a living off of gun sales. And those members' profits would almost certainly suffer if laws made it harder, or even illegal, for Americans to purchase certain types of weapons.
We must defeat radical terrorists, but not resort to destroying the rights of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves. -C.C.
— NRA (@NRA) June 14, 2016
Each year, the NRA spends millions to get pro-gun politicians elected and in office.
Their efforts have helped kill a number of pieces of legislation in Congress, including a stricter background check bill introduced following the attack on an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, as well as a recent bill that would have banned people on the FBI's "no-fly" list from purchasing a gun.
