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The NRA Posted Video of Congressional Testimony Opposing Universal Background Checks on Twitter, and David Hogg Just Made Them Regret It
Despite widespread support for universal background checks, gun rights advocacy group, the National Rifle Association (NRA), still sent experts to testify before Congress to attempt to block House bipartisan background checks bill HR8.
After one of their gun rights advocates spoke, the NRA posted video of their testimony on Twitter.
But not everyone was buying the logic of the NRA's rhetoric. The NRA lauded Professor Joyce Malcolm—a "leading historian on gun rights"—stating:
"Well said, Dr. Malcolm! The so-called 'universal' background check bill would only make law-abiding citizens more vulnerable."
Well said, Dr. Malcolm! The so-called "universal" background check bill would only make law-abiding citizens more v… https://t.co/LzYB3XMsGS— NRA (@NRA) 1549477475.0
But sensible gun control advocate and Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg countered:
"If you’re afraid of a background check you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun."
If you’re afraid of a background check you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun. https://t.co/UELsRSwIBo— David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954 (@David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954) 1549479401.0
Hogg went on to add:
"It’s almost like the NRA wants to arm criminals"
It’s almost like the NRA wants to arm criminals 🤔 https://t.co/UELsRSwIBo— David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954 (@David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954) 1549485016.0
Hogg finished by offering what kind of "law-abiding citizens" a universal background check of the kind the NRA wants to block might keep from buying a gun. He stated:
"The NRA wants to arm domestic abusers."
The NRA wants to arm domestic abusers.— David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954 (@David Hogg text VOTE to 954-954) 1549487795.0
The mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas was perpetrated by a legal gun owner. 26 people were killed in that mass shooting by a domestic abuser.
People not only agreed with Hogg's logic, they also let the NRA know by responding directly to their video of their gun rights expert. Many asked how people would be more vulnerable by stopping criminals—including domestic abusers who commit many of the workplace shootings—from being able to go to another state and legally buying a gun.
@NRA More vulnerable than what? What makes US citizens more vulnerable than knowing, because any idiot can buy a gu… https://t.co/jQ4atGgSdZ— Batgirl (@Batgirl) 1549485287.0
@NRA How? By making sure all gun purchases are to people without criminal records or mental health issues? Sounds… https://t.co/xxG1RKLeOa— Christopher LaChance (@Christopher LaChance) 1549483289.0
@NRA How can a universal background check hurt law abiding citizens?— Linda Oehmke (@Linda Oehmke) 1549490975.0
@NRA How would it make law abiding citizens vulnerable? If they are actually good folks - then nothing to be vulner… https://t.co/zpMXKeh8Ci— GrandmaGoat (@GrandmaGoat) 1549490471.0
Some accused the NRA of putting forth false information.
@NRA Cool story...it’d be cooler if there were even a modicum of factual evidence to back these statements up though— Coco (@Coco) 1549480483.0
And others called out the NRA's apparent hypocrisy when it comes to legal gun owner rights.
@NRA So how did that work for the guy with a consealed carry responding to a shooting ... who got shot by the cops?… https://t.co/dbKzRO39PM— Frobish Von Flichtenstein (@Frobish Von Flichtenstein) 1549483422.0
And some could not resist pointing out the NRA's financial ties to a certain foreign power.
@NRA better in the original Russian— SIGH!!! (@SIGH!!!) 1549486728.0
@NRA https://t.co/Kmd39jqbZV— DontLookAtAngie (@DontLookAtAngie) 1549490818.0
While the NRA found few allies online, Hogg's post yielded different results.
Some in attendance at the House committee hearing passed on the news that Malcolm was exposed as an NRA funded gun rights expert and not an independent expert.
@davidhogg111 I'm there right now. Malcolm was just DRAGGED by a Democrat because her seat was and is apparently pa… https://t.co/6yreH8lX05— 🧢 (((Josiah Altschuler))) ✡️ עם ישראל חי (@🧢 (((Josiah Altschuler))) ✡️ עם ישראל חי) 1549479496.0
March For Our Lives is in the House of Representatives, showing up in support of HR8 - the Bipartisan Background Ch… https://t.co/Y6sdv91Upa— March For Our Lives (@March For Our Lives) 1549468407.0
They also provided some statistics that flew in the face of Malcolm's claims.
@davidhogg111 Based on the number of concealed-carry permit holders who kill people (https://t.co/MkpoBsdrPQ), "law… https://t.co/B4cz4GOyIn— Nathan Ferry (@Nathan Ferry) 1549480200.0
Gun owners even agreed with universal background checks as common sense gun control.
@davidhogg111 @seeker2233 As a gun owner and enthusiast, I couldn’t agree more. Is it inconvenient, sure. But it is… https://t.co/S31MESay4w— A hanging Chad (@A hanging Chad) 1549481894.0
@davidhogg111 @seeker2233 Maybe an ownership tax and required liability insurance might be good. Y’know, like how I… https://t.co/ugrFxDOShI— A hanging Chad (@A hanging Chad) 1549482008.0
@seeker2233 @davidhogg111 This isn’t as elevated at common sense. This should be autonomous. Like breathing or blin… https://t.co/eC1M86LhXS— A hanging Chad (@A hanging Chad) 1549482149.0
The House is taking testimony for and against the proposed universal background check bill. After the hearing is complete, the committee will vote to pass HR8 on to the full House for a vote or to kill it in committee.