Texas Law Shield would like to assure its members that a recent kerfluffle between the NRA and open-carry groups in Texas seems to have smoothed over.
The National Rifle Association’s Chris Cox apologized for a published statement by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) that described openly carrying rifles in Texas for demonstration purposes as “downright weird” and “downright scary.”
The original May 30 statement read: “Let’s not mince words, not only is it rare, it’s downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself. To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one’s cause, it can be downright scary.
“… Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That’s not the Texas way. And that’s certainly not the NRA way.”
The NRA-ILA released the statement referring to the open-carry demonstrations that had taken place in Chipotle, Jack in the Box, Chili’s, and Sonic.
Open Carry Texas, one of the groups organizing the rallies, posted a statement on Facebook calling the original NRA-ILA remarks “disgusting and disrespectful,” and threatening to “withdraw its full support of the NRA.”
https://www.facebook.com/OpenCarryTexas/posts/699519806761309
In walking back the original comments, Cox said they represented one staffer’s personal views. Cox clarified the NRA’s stance on open carry and apologized for the negative statement about OC activists in the video below.
After Cox’s announcement, Open Carry Texas posted again on Facebook, thanking the NRA for the clarification and adding, “We remain confident that the NRA will aid with legislative support, to help in getting an open carry bill both drafted, and passed in the 2015 legislative session.”
Members: Tell us what you think about this incident between NRA and OCT in the comments section below.
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