NRA tweets glamour shot of AR-15 while students hold National School Walkout protesting gun violence

People were not happy.
NRA tweets glamour shot of AR-15 while students hold National School Walkout protesting gun violence
Students in Chicago participate in the national walkout March For Our Lives, the same day the NRA tweeted a photo of an AR-15. Credit: Max Herman/ Getty Images

The NRA had a pretty tactless response to the National School Walkout on Wednesday.

March 14 marks one month since the tragic mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 people dead, and students nationwide are walking out of classes to honor those who died and protest gun violence.

On a day being used to remember children killed by an AR-15, the National Rifle Association, a pro-gun lobbying group, tweeted a photo of an AR-15 with the caption, "I'll control my own guns, thank you."

The NRA's tweet was quickly met with backlash.

Cameron Kasky, a Parkland survivor who has become an outspoken advocate for gun control, made fun of the NRA.

"This for some reason reminds me of a whining toddler screaming 'I'M NOT TIRED' while being sent to bed," he tweeted at the NRA.

Twitter user David Ruske pointed out that the NRA has become more extremist over time in its defense of guns. Ruske explained that when he was younger, he took safety courses from the NRA, which "provided lessons of value." Since then, he says the organization seems to promote a "dangerous agenda."

Twitter user Sabra Williams pointed out that the NRA's tweet didn't make much sense. Since the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, an estimated 7,000 children have died from gun violence in and outside of schools.

An hour before tweeting the glamour shot, the NRA posted a video pushing to "secure our schools and stop school violence" by arming school officials with guns.

Just yesterday, three children were injured (none seriously) when their teacher accidentally discharged a gun in a classroom during a demonstration on gun safety.

Thousands of students around the country took part in the National School Walkout on Wednesday. Some stood for a 17 minute moment of silence to honor the victims of the Parkland shooting, while others held signs and chanted for in protest for gun reform. Although some rallies were limited to school properties, students in larger cities like New York and Miami took to the streets to lead a city-wide protest.

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