NRA's Powerful Response to the Hillary Clinton-Backed Gun Control 'Wear Orange' Campaign

by Tyler O'Neil: On Friday, gun control activists launched a campaign to "wear orange" during the weekend around the third annual Gun Violence Awareness Day, sponsored by the group Everytown for Gun Safety. The National Rifle Association (NRA) responded with its own gun safety declaration, perfectly subverting the campaign.

Everytown for Gun Safety asked supporters to wear orange on Friday, which it designated National Gun Violence Awareness Day. "Tomorrow is National Gun Violence Awareness Day and millions of Americans will Wear Orange — a color so loud it can't be ignored," the group tweeted.

Tomorrow is National Gun Violence Awareness Day and millions of Americans will #WearOrange - a color so loud it can't be ignored. Share a pic with your orange gear and use the hashtag #WearOrange! 🍊🧡https://t.co/aNOztH1MCL pic.twitter.com/IsZth1fT4p

— Everytown (@Everytown) June 1, 2018

According to the campaign's website, WearOrange.com, Hadiya Pendleton's friends wore orange in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15. Pendleton lost her life only one week after performing at President Barack Obama's 2nd inaugural parade in 2013.

Two suspects, 18-year-old Michael Ward and 20-year-old Kenneth Williams, were arrested an indicted with first degree murder and other charges. They told police Pendleton was not the intended target, but her group was mistaken for members of a rival gang. Like so many brutally murdered by MS-13, Pendleton was a tragic victim of gang violence.

President Obama mentioned Pendleton's death in his 2013 State of the Union Address, and invited Pendleton's parents as guests. Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, the girl's mother, went onstage but did not speak at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Everytown for Gun Safety designated June 2, Pendleton's birthday, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in 2015. This year, however, the day has extended into "Wear Orange Weekend," starting Friday.

Kim Kardashian West has partnered with Everytown during past events and blogged about her stance in 2017. She insisted "I'm not against guns and I'm not against people owning guns," but she did push for "stricter gun control laws." She explained her stance was influenced by her being robbed at gunpoint in Paris in October 2016.

Kardashian West has not yet tweeted about "Wear Orange Weekend," but former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has. "Too many American children will never have the opportunity to realize their dreams because their lives were cut short by a bullet," Clinton tweeted. "Our kids deserve to live free from the threat of gun violence."

Too many American children will never have the opportunity to realize their dreams because their lives were cut short by a bullet. Our kids deserve to live free from the threat of gun violence. #WearOrange @Everytown @MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/SjacOKPgVv

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018

The "Wear Orange" campaign aimed to subvert the hunter safety protocol (dating back to 1960 to Frank Woolner, who advised wearing orange in an article for Field & Stream Magazine), but the history of wearing blaze orange emphatically began with hunters, those who use firearms for food and recreation.

The NRA rightly pointed out that gun control activists are trying to subvert orange, a color long associated with proper gun use and gun safety.

Americans should remember and lament the tragic death of Hadiya Pendleton, and support responses to gang violence. They should push back against the idea that gun control is the one proper and effective response to such tragedies, however. The NRA presents an alternate way — educating gun owners about safety, and training them to defend their fellow citizens from shooters.
--------------------
Tyler O'Neil is Assistant Editor of PJ Media, Tyler O'Neil is a conservative fundraiser and commentator. He has written for numerous publications.

---

Tags: 2018, activism, GUNS, NRA, social media, PJmedia, Tyler O'Neil To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!