Huffington Post Taunts NRA for Not Politicizing
Charleston Attack
by AWR Hawkins 20 Jul 2015
On July 20, the Huffington
Post taunted the NRA for refusing to politicize the heinous June 17
attack on Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
The article seized on
NRA executive
vice president Wayne LaPierre’s decision to remain quiet in the wake of the
Charleston shooting, and it was construed in a manner designed to draw him out.
For example, they suggest this silence indicates the
NRA has something to hide. They do this by positing that the silence “is a pretty
clear indication that the whole notion of gun ownership may still be up for
grabs, 2nd Amendment or no 2nd Amendment.” And they poke fun at claims
that the NRA is America’s “oldest civil rights organization.”
All the while, the NRA is enjoying a ubiquitous winning
streak that includes victory in over 90 percent of the races in which they
endorsed a candidate in the 2014 midterm elections. Moreover, their status as a
civil rights organization is bolstered by the fact that gun rights are civil
rights, as is every right protected by the Bill of Rights.
But the mockery of LaPierre and the NRA is not intended to
be an honest critique. Rather, it follows HuffPo’s realization that both he and
the organization would rather be silent and insulted than respond and join in
the politicization of Charleston.
Ironically, amid the lopsided and hyperbolic critique of the
NRA, the HuffPo fails to mention that alleged Charleston gunman Dylann Roof
passed a background check for his gun. More importantly, other
than mentioning the church’s pastor in discussing gun control early on, the article fails to mention or
dedicate any time to the churchgoers who tragically lost their lives in the
heinous attack.
It’s to avoid diminishing that loss that the NRA and other
groups have refused to politicize the attack.
NRA
David Saperstein
made the National Rifle Association
enemies list listed in 2013, and a
member of the Council on Faith-Based and
Neighborhood Partnerships.
Note: Vashti M.
McKenzie was a member of the Council
on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign,
and is a bishop for the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Nancy
Ratzan was a member of the Council
on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and is a governing board
member for Common Cause.
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for Common Cause.
George Soros
was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Benjamin R.
Barber is a governing board member for Common
Cause, and a contributor for the Huffington
Post.
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