NRA under fire for 'Target Practice' headline next to Nancy Pelosi and Gabby Giffords image: 'This is how terrorists behave'
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is facing criticism from people across the country for a magazine spread that places the headline “Target Practice” next to an image of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Rep. Gabby Giffords.
After revealing the spread from its March 2019 American Rifleman newsletter on Saturday, the organization has gotten a lot of heat from those perceiving the words as violent, and for associating them with Democratic lawmakers — including former Arizona Rep. Giffords, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head when meeting with constituents back in 2011. And manyTwitter users — including Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi — are calling on Americans to condemn the NRA for its “effort to incite terrorism.”
Someone sent me this image of the latest copy of NRA's magazine, featuring a story with the words "Target Practice" next to a photo of Nancy Pelosi with Gabby Giffords. Maybe don't do this @NRA. pic.twitter.com/u9fQhxwEyk
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) February 22, 2019
The NRA published a magazine headline “target practice” with a photo of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Rep Gabby Giffords. We must condemn this intentional, outrageous criminal incitement. We cannot allow this hate speech to stop common sense gun violence prevention.
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) February 23, 2019
Look at the NRA magazine and their ridiculous message to their supporters. An article titled “Target Practice” with Speaker Pelosi and Gabby Giffords in the picture next to it. The NRA has some sick and twisted people. This is disgusting and pathetic. They know this is WRONG. pic.twitter.com/prDp28om9i
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 23, 2019
@NRA is so morally bankrupt. This spread is vile. “Target practice” with Gabby Gifford in the photo?!?! pic.twitter.com/fLpE4lMIaT
— Melissa Ladd (@melissajladd) February 23, 2019
Some supporters of the NRA fought back to say that the focus of the article was actually on Democrats targeting gun owners with the proposal of stricter gun laws and universal background checks. But gun control activist and Parkland father Fred Guttenberg pointed out that the organization made a deliberate choice to put the headline next to that specific image.
Magazine covers and titles are highly thought out. People get paid a lot of money on decisions like this. The decision in NRA magazine to have an article titled Target Practice next to photo of Pelosi and Giffords is intentional. This is incitement of violence and not OK! https://t.co/63mXCLn6UN
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) February 23, 2019
Suggestions of violence has real results. The NRA knew exactly what it was doing and this was an effort to encourage others to act. This is how terrorists behave and this was an effort to incite terrorism and they need to be held to account by law enforcement.
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) February 24, 2019
The NRA did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment, and has yet to make a public statement on the matter.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter calls out NRA’s ‘very unfortunate’ tweet linking her dad to gun rights
• A Parkland dad shared George H.W. Bush’s letter of resignation from the NRA: ‘He served with honor and decency’
• Walmart is selling shotgun shell holiday lights, and people on social media are not happy
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