The National Rifle Association would be the last entity to have called out gun rights advocates in Texas who have been hosting demonstrations to campaign for firearm owners to be able to bring military-style assault rifles into businesses like restaurants. But the pro-gun group had been the first to support critics of the "open-carry" gun rights, and even laud the demonstrations as "weird," The Associated Press revealed in a report.
The news wire agency said that Texas has the least restrictive laws on guns in the country. However, openly carrying guns in public remains illegal in the state. A gun holder who carries his firearm in a threatening way could be charged with disorderly conduct.
The NRA is a known zealous advocate for rights of the gun owner. However, the group's lobbying arm, Institute for Legislative Action, said that the demonstrations were counterproductive to the organization's promotion for gun rights, and had even said that the campaigns were downright scary.
In a statement, the NRA said, (The demonstrations have) crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness. Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way."
Open Carry Texas, one of the groups who had been behind the recent demonstrations, criticized the NRA's latest remarks, and even threatened withdrawing its support for the NRA if the pro-gun group does not retract its statements.
Open Carry said on its Facebook page, "It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to be dedicated to the preservation of gun rights would attack another organization fighting so hard for those rights in Texas," Open Carry Texas said. "The more the NRA continues to divide its members by attacking some aspects of gun rights instead of supporting all gun rights, the more support it will lose."
