Gun Activists Cut Up NRA Member Cards Over Criticism Of AR-15s In Restaurants

Stephanie McDonald and James Franklin buy coffee at the Ground Floor on Wall Street while participating in an open carry demonstration Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. "We want to educate the public concerning our legal right... Stephanie McDonald and James Franklin buy coffee at the Ground Floor on Wall Street while participating in an open carry demonstration Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. "We want to educate the public concerning our legal rights and help people become accustomed to the idea of responsible people carrying firearms," said Franklin. (AP Photo/Midland Reporter-Telegram, James Durbin) MORE LESS
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Gun lovers in Texas are furious at the National Rifle Association right now.

In response to the NRA’s statement on Friday criticizing Texas activists’ recent tactics, members of the pro-gun group Open Carry Texas have been cutting up their NRA membership cards, and the group has issued a statement demanding a retraction of the NRA’s “disgusting and disrespectful comments.” Or else.

“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,” Open Carry Texas said in a statement published Monday on its Facebook page.

In its statement last week, the NRA said that activists in Texas had recently “crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness” with their attempts to bring semi-automatic rifles into fast food restaurants. Open Carry Texas — the most prominent group involved in the Texas demonstrations — responded Monday by saying it was “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.”

“Already, OCT members are posting pictures of themselves cutting up their life membership cards,” the group said. “If they do not retract their disgusting and disrespectful comments, OCT will have no choice but to withdraw its full support of the NRA and establish relationships with other gun rights organizations that fight for ALL gun rights, instead of just paying them lip service the way the NRA appears to be doing.”

Open Carry Texas argued that the NRA’s criticism was “completely unnecessary,” given that Open Carry Texas and several other groups had late last month issued a statement asking their members to avoid carrying long arms into private businesses during demonstrations.

“The NRA should have instead released a statement to the effect that it applauds our groups for coming together and finding new methods to promote safe and responsible open carry,” the group said.

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