The Newtown Action Alliance (NAA) will join with other groups on Monday, Jan. 18, to protest the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) irresponsible marketing and lobbying practices and a Las Vegas Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) in which the NSSF is participating. The gun show runs from Jan. 19-22 and is considered the largest U.S. firearm national trade show.
Report by Paula Antolini
January 16, 2016 3:18AM EDT
Photo above: Bethel Advocate file photo from 2013 protest rally that Newtown Action Alliance organized, at same location on Mile Hill Road. Photo ©2013 Paula Antolini.
Anti-Gun Rally Planned in Newtown on Monday, Jan. 18, by Newtown Action Alliance and Others
The Newtown Action Alliance (NAA) will join with other groups on Monday, Jan. 18, to protest the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) irresponsible marketing and lobbying practices and a Las Vegas Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) in which the NSSF is participating. The gun show runs from Jan. 19-22 and is considered the largest U.S. firearm national trade show.
The NAA press release stated that besides the Newtown Action Alliance, the other organizations that will attend the rally are: Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Brady Campaign Southwest CT Chapter, Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence and the Enough Campaign.
Since the Newtown shooting in 2012, the NSSF has ramped up its spending to lobby against all gun safety laws, filing lawsuits against gun safety legislation in Connecticut and other states. In addition to marketing guns to children, the NSSF outspent the National Rifle Organization in lobbying for gun rights in 2014 and spent nearly as much in 2015, the press release states.
The protest rally will occur at 4 p.m. at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) located in Newtown at 11 Mile Hill Road, its corporate headquarters.
WHEN:
Martin Luther King Day
Monday, January 18, 2016 at 4:00 PM EST
WHO:
Newtown Action Alliance
Connecticut Against Gun Violence
Brady Campaign Southwest CT Chapter
Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence
Enough Campaign
WHERE:
National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Corporate Headquarters:
11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown CT
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In 2013 a similar protest took place by the Newtown Action Alliance at the same location in front of the NSSF headquarters at 11 Mile Hill Road.
Click here to view VIDEOS of this past event and more PHOTOS.
The protesters stood elbow to elbow in two separate groups, the Newtown Action Alliance on one side and and the National Shooting Sports Foundation on the other, but even with shouts and numerous signs, all was peaceful.
The NSSF declined to comment at the time, preferring to issue the following 2013 press release:
“We respect the rights of all citizens under our First Amendment to express their opinions in public. We all share the goal of wanting to help make Connecticut safer for our children and all our citizens. That is why we have been speaking with legislators to promote practical measures that will effectively address the central issue of keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have access to them.”
This other protest took place on March 28, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. and broke up peacefully at about 5:45 p.m..
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