The National Rifle Association owes the people of Newtown, Conn. an apology for robo-calls urging residents to oppose gun control legislation, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said Tuesday, adding that he was “astonished” and “outraged” by gun group’s move.
“I was absolutely astonished, as well as outraged, that the NRA is calling families in Newtown, Conn. impacted by this horrific tragedy,” Blumenthal said on MSNBC, “and reopening wounds and feelings of grief and hurt that remain very real for these families. And the reason I was so surprised is that, you know, it had to be calculated and intentional. They have the technology to avoid calling certain areas, and even if they had that technology, they chose to go ahead and do it. So I think the NRA not only should cease and desist the phone calls, but also, it owes Newtown an apology. And I think that everyone is entitled to an opinion, everyone is entitled to political action, but to make the calls really is beyond the pale.”
Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) sent NRA chief Wayne LaPierre a letter on Monday demanding the group put an end to the robo-calls. “In a community that’s still very much in crisis, to be making these calls opens a wound that these families are still trying hard to heal,” the senators wrote. “Put yourself in the shoes of a victim’s family member who gets a call at dinnertime asking them to support more assault weapons in our schools and on our streets.”
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