【】

The NRA has finally broken its silence since the recent fatal shootings of two black men in Minnesota and Louisiana.

On Friday, days after Philando Castile was shot in Falcon Heights, Minnesota and Alton Sterling was killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the National Rifle Association issued a brief statement on its Facebook page focused on Castile's death.

The post came several hours after it tweeted a statement offering condolences to the families of the officers killed in Dallas in Thursday night's shootings. 

Critics have called the NRA out for swiftly commenting on the Dallas shooting, while dragging its heels before speaking out on Castile and Sterling's deaths. To be specific, the NRA did not even reference Sterling in its latest statement.

"As the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, the NRA proudly supports the right of law-abiding Americans to carry firearms for defense of themselves and others regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation," the statement said.

"The reports from Minnesota are troubling and must be thoroughly investigated. In the meantime, it is important for the NRA not to comment while the investigation is ongoing."

"Rest assured, the NRA will have more to say once all the facts are known."

Not everyone was happy with the NRA's response, though.

Many pointed out that the organization failed to even mention the names of the victims, particularly Castile who was legally carrying a gun in his car, and according to his girlfriend, was trying to tell police he had a license to carry before he was shot. 

The NRA advocates for gun ownership and open and concealed carry laws based on the Second Amendment. 

After being ridiculed for ignoring #PhilandroCastile murder @NRA issues statement that doesn't even mention his name pic.twitter.com/jMbTfcH6mX

— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) July 8, 2016

Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond was among those criticizing the NRA Friday morning, ahead of the statement's release.

"Their second amendment concern is void of concern for African-Americans," he said during a press conference. "We can not give them a pass on not making a comment."

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

最新评论