NRA Swiftly Defends Guns After Colorado Mass Shooting Following Lawsuit Overturning An Assault Rifle Ban In Boulder

Topline

The National Rifle Association (NRA) swiftly defended gun ownership in the wake of a mass shooting in a Boulder, Colorado, superstore, just a week after celebrating its success in overturning a two-year assault rifle ban in the city—the incident is likely to fuel further discussions on gun control in the U.S. after another mass shooting took place in Atlanta, Georgia last week.  

Key Facts

Key Background 

The Colorado attack, a week after eight people were killed in three Atlanta-area shootings, is likely to reignite discussion around gun control in the United States. In Atlanta, many are reportedly concerned with the apparent ease with which the alleged perpetrator acquired a firearm and the possibility that 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who admitted responsibility for killing eight people, was racially motivated. Six of the eight killed were Asian women, though Long denied any racial motivation for the attack.

What To Watch For

The police haven’t released much information on the suspect of the Boulder shooting or the weapon used. Details are likely to emerge as the investigation unfolds. 

Big Number

7. The Colorado shooting is the seventh mass shooting in as many days. 

Tangent 

The campaign for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who is a major proponent of guns, sent out a fundraising email to her supporters Monday night encouraging them to reject any gun control efforts in Washington. The email, which went out just hours after the mass shooting in her state, asked supporters to say “Hell No” to such efforts. Her tweets on the incident were denounced on social media, with many mocking the boilerplate “thoughts and prayers” response.  

Further Reading

10 Dead, Including Police Officer, In Boulder Supermarket Mass Shooting (Forbes)

Lauren Boebert’s Campaign Email Calls On Supporters To Say ‘Hell No’ To Gun Control Laws Hours After Colorado Shooting (Forbes)