Gun Industry Kicks Off Annual Trade Show on Holiday
Honoring Assassinated Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today condemned the gun industry trade group the National Shooting
Sports Foundation (NSSF) for kicking off its annual gun trade show, the SHOT Show, on the national
holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated with a Remington rifle in 1968.
This is not the first time that pro-gun organizations have drawn fire over the issue of inappropriate
scheduling: the National Rifle Association (NRA) was strongly criticized for holding its 1996 convention on
the first anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, as well as for opening its 1998 convention on the
30th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination.
"This macabre timing is only the latest addition to the gun lobby's bent for inappropriate and insensitive
scheduling," said VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. "While most Americans will be honoring Dr.
King's memory, SHOT Show participants will be reveling in a celebration of firearms."
http://www.vpc.org/
Honoring Assassinated Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today condemned the gun industry trade group the National Shooting
Sports Foundation (NSSF) for kicking off its annual gun trade show, the SHOT Show, on the national
holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated with a Remington rifle in 1968.
This is not the first time that pro-gun organizations have drawn fire over the issue of inappropriate
scheduling: the National Rifle Association (NRA) was strongly criticized for holding its 1996 convention on
the first anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, as well as for opening its 1998 convention on the
30th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination.
"This macabre timing is only the latest addition to the gun lobby's bent for inappropriate and insensitive
scheduling," said VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. "While most Americans will be honoring Dr.
King's memory, SHOT Show participants will be reveling in a celebration of firearms."
http://www.vpc.org/