The National Rifle Association (NRA), an American social welfare organization which advocates for gun rights, targeted a pair of New York lawmakers who have supported recent bills aimed at limiting ammunition by tweeting a menacing image of bullets next to polaroid pictures of the two lawmakers.
The New York lawmakers, state Senator Roxane Persaud and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon, both Democrats in Brooklyn, announced legislation aimed at controlling the sale of ammunition few weeks ago. The twin bills limit bullet purchases over a 90 day period to twice the gun's capacity, and stopping the sale of ammunition to those unauthorized to won such a weapon.
The NRA publication, America's 1st Freedom, expressed its disapproval for the ammunition legislations in Monday tweet. According to The Guardian, the publication linked to a strongly worded article written by editor Mark Chesnut, titled Ban Antics in New York.
Chesnut called the ammunition bills as "one of the most ridiculous anti0gun schemes I've seen in some time," adding that "more than just a handful of ammo" is required for one day of training at a gun range.
In the tweet, Chestnut said that Senator Persaud and Assemblywoman Simon greatly dislike gun owners and want to make like harder for them, and that the lawmakers don't care with the consequences.
The tweet evoked immediate condemnation from the two lawmakers and other local supporters including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
According to New York Daily News, Senator Persaud said addressing to the NRA publication, that "by placing someone's picture with bullets next to them you are playing on the fears of people."
The polaroid picture of Persaud and Simon were published in 2010 by the Republican Sarah Palin that listed several Democrats who voted the Affordable Care Act and included their districts in crosshairs, according to ABC News.
Simon said that the photo was irresponsible and simply an attempt by the NRA to stir up its gun-loving base. She added that the NRA is clearly trying to intimidate her and it is not working.
Persaud and Simon said they have received threatening emails and tweets since they unveiled plans for the bill.
The NRA's menacing tweet came four days before the fifth anniversary of the Arizona shooting which seriously injured Democratic U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and killed six people. And it also came just one day before President Obama announced his executive actions to strengthen gun control laws.
