{"id":94658,"date":"2017-07-03T12:01:04","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T11:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=94658"},"modified":"2017-06-30T11:05:37","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T10:05:37","slug":"the-nra-recruitment-video-that-is-even-upsetting-gun-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/07\/the-nra-recruitment-video-that-is-even-upsetting-gun-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"The NRA Recruitment Video That Is Even Upsetting Gun Owners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>29 Jun 2017 &#8211; <\/em>\u201cThey use their media to assassinate real news,\u201d the woman\u2019s voice says scornfully. \u201cThey use their schools to teach children that their president is another Hitler. They use their movie stars and singers and comedy shows and award shows to repeat their narrative over and over again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It may sound like an excerpt <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=t6qF5NU-ehU\" >from North Korean state television railing against the evil Americans<\/a> and their corrupt democracy on the far side of the Pacific.<\/p>\n<p>httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PrnIVVWtAag<\/p>\n<p>But these are the opening lines of a new recruitment video by the National Rifle Association of America that is headlined by conservative television host Dana Loesch. The Blaze personality and NRA spokeswoman\u00a0doesn\u2019t hold back, painting a stark picture of the U.S.\u00a0political climate that some have interpreted as an ad designed to provoke fear, if not incite violence.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This new NRA ad is barely a whisper shy of a call for full civil war. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N33s2KyvVz\" >https:\/\/t.co\/N33s2KyvVz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jeff Sharlet (@JeffSharlet) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JeffSharlet\/status\/880210733065261060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 28, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The video is just over one minute long, but it has generated more than 3.3 million views, thousands of comments and shares, and lots of controversy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m an old white guy and a life member, but this BS is disgusting,\u201d Facebook user Eric Eugene Rush commented under the post. \u201cWhen you spew crap like this, you don\u2019t speak for me anymore. I try to avoid doing things on the spur of the moment, but I\u2019ll be thinking about canceling my membership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJeeeeesus \u2026 it almost looks like you\u2019re encouraging violence against demonstrators,\u201d Steve van der Lacy wrote. \u201cJust let the police do their jobs when or if protests get out of hand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The video elicited\u00a0a strong reaction from Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, who called the video \u201can open call to violence to protect white supremacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This NRA ad is an open call to violence to protect white supremacy. If I made a video like this, I&#39;d be in jail. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LD65yMUMVn\" >pic.twitter.com\/LD65yMUMVn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; deray (@deray) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/deray\/status\/880409739015766016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DLoesch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >@DLoesch<\/a>, we took to the streets in response to police violence &amp; have stayed bc of state violence &#8212; condemn these. Until then, \u270c\ud83c\udffe. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HLIC4cILaU\" >https:\/\/t.co\/HLIC4cILaU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; deray (@deray) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/deray\/status\/880470006441562112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Former talk show host Montel Williams also chimed in, saying, \u201cI find it disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Montel_Williams\/status\/880449931064094720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fpost-nation%2Fwp%2F2017%2F06%2F29%2Fthe-nra-recruitment-video-that-is-even-upsetting-gun-owners%2F<\/p>\n<p>Loesch did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment about the video, nor did the NRA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hardly think that condemning violence is inciting violence,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/06\/29\/us\/nra-ad-trump-protests.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur\" >she told the New York Times<\/a> when asked to comment on the video. \u201cI think the ad is very clear \u2014 there are excerpts from actual riots that are included in the ad, and that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m addressing.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lie. No one called for guns. You owe an apology for trying to purposefully incite with such impugnation. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z7xSiBl6Qe\" >https:\/\/t.co\/Z7xSiBl6Qe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DLoesch\/status\/880287503265280000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >June 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Critics <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thepetitionsite.com\/875\/997\/392\/facebook-remove-inflammatory-nra-video-for-inciting-violence\/\" >released a petition<\/a> calling for Facebook to remove the video, which the petition refers to as \u201cinflammatory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll we have to do is look at the increase in violence since the election to see how\u00a0unchecked violent rhetoric has real life consequences,\u201d the petition states. \u201cLetting this disturbing video stay on Facebook would be extremely irresponsible and could very well lead to disastrous repercussions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe video tries to create an \u2018us-vs-them\u2019\u00a0narrative and pit Americans against one another,\u201d the petition, which has garnered about 10,500 signatures, adds. \u201cIt paints liberals as liars and as violent, unruly protesters who law-abiding gun owners need protection from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the ad, Loesch accuses \u00a0\u201ctheir\u201d ex-president of endorsing \u201cthe resistance,\u201d a movement of demonstrators who \u201csmash windows, burn cars, shut down interstates and airports \u2014 bully and terrorize the law-abiding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only way we stop this, the only way we save our country, and our freedom, is to fight this violence of lies with a clenched fist of truth,\u201d Loesch concludes. \u201cI\u2019m the National Rifle Association of America and I\u2019m freedom\u2019s safest place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If Loesch\u2019s rhetoric is an attempt to draw battles lines and stoke outrage, she\u2019s feeding into a clearly-defined narrative that exists among right-wing websites on the Internet, one that views a clash between conservatives and liberals in almost prophetic terms.<\/p>\n<p>After James T. Hodgkinson opened fire on Congress members at a baseball practice in Alexandria, Va.,\u00a0wounding five \u2014 including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) \u2014 some far-right websites used the shooting as an opportunity to advance the sense of impending doom, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/the-intersect\/wp\/2017\/06\/14\/on-the-trump-internet-an-incident-like-the-baseball-practice-shooting-has-long-been-a-forgone-conclusion\/?utm_term=.818b00abfde2\" >according to Washington Post reporter Abby Ohlheiser<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithin an hour, Infowars.com had published a story headlined, \u2018LEFTIST GUNMAN SHOOTS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN IN MEDIA-INSPIRED TERROR ATTACK,&#8217;\u201d Ohlheiser wrote. \u201cThe gunman had not yet been publicly identified when the story was published, nor had his motivation or political views.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been warning for months that the mainstream media\u2019s hysterical anti-Trump narrative and the left\u2019s insistence that Trump is illegitimate will radicalize demented social justice warriors and prompt them to lash out with violence,\u201d Infowars\u2019s Paul Joseph Watson wrote in the article. \u201cIt looks like that\u2019s exactly what happened today. The blood is on their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More recently, conservatives including Newt Gingrich and Eric Trump have criticized what they have called \u201can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/after-the-shootings-calls-for-unity-amid-recriminations-and-finger-pointing\/2017\/06\/14\/93fb667e-511a-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?tid=a_inl&amp;utm_term=.0fb36cedb677\" >increasing hostility<\/a>\u00a0on the left,\u201d in clashes at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/morning-mix\/wp\/2017\/02\/02\/black-bloc-protests-return-for-trump-era-leaving-flames-broken-windows-from-dc-to-berkeley\/?utm_term=.fd20c8b6abbf\" >Berkeley<\/a>, Calif., and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/morning-mix\/wp\/2017\/06\/05\/in-portland-images-of-knives-brass-knuckles-bricks-show-viciousness-of-protests\/?utm_term=.93a98650fcd8\" >Portland<\/a>, Ore., and from celebrities such as\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/morning-mix\/wp\/2017\/06\/02\/kathy-griffin-will-talk-about-bullying-from-the-trump-family-at-presser-friday\/?utm_term=.b5256c8a05e0\" >Kathy Griffin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On the NRA\u2019s Facebook page, one user said the \u201cbiggest problem\u201d fueling the impending violence narrative is \u201cthe idea of \u2018Team\u2019 politics \u2014 Red vs Blue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to stop believing that our chosen \u2018Team\u2019 will always do what is right,\u201d Albert Stroh wrote. \u201cStart researching your elected politicians. Study their voting history, their campaign donors their level of connection and commitment to the communities they are elected to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________________<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Peter-Holley.jpeg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-94659 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Peter-Holley-e1498816601890.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><em>Peter Holley is a general assignment reporter at<\/em> The Washington Post. <em>He can be reached at peter.holley@washpost.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/post-nation\/wp\/2017\/06\/29\/the-nra-recruitment-video-that-is-even-upsetting-gun-owners\/?utm_term=.b3985e104ea8\" >Go to Original \u2013 washingtonpost.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>29 Jun 2017 &#8211; It may sound like an excerpt from North Korean state television railing against the evil Americans and their corrupt democracy on the far side of the Pacific. But these are the opening lines of a new recruitment video by the National Rifle Association of America that is headlined by conservative television host Dana Loesch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-anglo-america"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94658"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94658\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}