NRA Issues Statement on Philando Castile Two Days After His Killing

The NRA has issued a statement on Philando Castile, who was shot and killed by Minnesota police.

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Complex Original

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The National Rifle Association issued a statement Friday afternoon on Philando Castile, who was shot and killed by police in Falcon Heights, Minn. Wednesday night. Without referring to the African-American man by name, the NRA said of the "reports from Minnesota:"

As the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization, the NRA proudly supports the right of law-abiding Americans to carry firearms for defense of themselves and others regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. 

According to Castile's girlfriend Diamond Reynolds, who captured his death on Facebook Live shortly after he was shot, Reynolds had a permit to carry a gun legally and gave officer Jeronimo Yanez a heads-up about his gun. Many, including Complex's own Ross Scarano, wondered why the NRA hadn't jumped forward to defend Castile given its mission to ardently fight for the rights of gun owners. 

The NRA issued a statement on the Dallas police shooting, which is still under investigation, within 24 hours of the incident. 

On June 13, while investigations were still underway on the June 12 Orlando nightclub shooting, the NRA took to Twitter to comment on gun control and terrorism. 

Gun laws don't deter terrorists. https://t.co/Y7fqC6IhK1 #2A
.@POTUS & @HillaryClinton have responded to a terrorist attack…by calling for more #guncontrol - @NRAILA Exec. Dir. Chris W. Cox
They are desperate to create the illusion that they’re doing SOMETHING to protect us– even though their policies won't keep us safe - C.C.
Their transparent head-fakes should scare every American because it will do nothing to prevent the a future attack. - C.C.
Law-abiding gun owners are done with being blamed for the acts of madmen and terrorists. - C.C.
To suggest that all we need is a new ban on “assault weapons” provides nothing but a dangerous sense of false security. - C.C.
We must defeat radical terrorists, but not resort to destroying the rights of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves. -C.C.

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