NRA Tweets Photo Of AR-15 On Day Of National School Walkout For No Particular Reason

David Moye
Updated

It’s probably just a coincidence, right?

On a day when students all over the U.S. walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence in schools, the National Rifle Association tweeted a photo of an AR-15 — a weapon frequently used in mass shootings.

The NRA posted the tweet, that read, “I’ll control my own guns, thank you,” on Wednesday morning.

An AR-15 was allegedly used by the Parkland, Florida, school shooter in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre last month that left 17 dead. Since the shooting — which spurred student organizers to plan Wednesday’s nationwide walkout — many have called for stricter gun control, urging retailers to stop selling assault-style rifles and putting pressure on the NRA to support common-sense safety measures.

Wednesday’s tweet falls within the gun lobby’s hardline stance on preserving Americans’ right to own firearms.

Some on social media questioned the timing of the tweet, coming on a day when many are speaking out about gun violence.

Criticism against the NRA has ramped up in the weeks following the Parkland shooting. A recent poll found that 51 percent of voters said the NRA supports policies that are bad for the nation, up from 47 percent in October.

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Students walk out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the National School Walkout to protest gun violence in Parkland, Florida.
Students walk out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the National School Walkout to protest gun violence in Parkland, Florida.
Students chant outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the walkout.
Students chant outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the walkout.
Students from Stuyvesant High School walk out in New York City.
Students from Stuyvesant High School walk out in New York City.
Students gather outside the White House in Washington, D.C.
Students gather outside the White House in Washington, D.C.
Students participate in a march in support of the National School Walkout in the Queens borough of New York City. 
Students participate in a march in support of the National School Walkout in the Queens borough of New York City. 
Students from Grace Church School walk out in New York City
Students from Grace Church School walk out in New York City
Students from Grace Church School walk out in New York City.
Students from Grace Church School walk out in New York City.
Students at Philadelphia High School of Creative And Performing Arts participate in the walkout. 
Students at Philadelphia High School of Creative And Performing Arts participate in the walkout. 
Students at Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida participate in the walkout. 
Students at Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida participate in the walkout. 
Columbine High School student Leah Zunder holds a sign.
Columbine High School student Leah Zunder holds a sign.
Students at Lane Technical High School in Chicago held signs in support of the walkout.
Students at Lane Technical High School in Chicago held signs in support of the walkout.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.