The NRA is being called out for using the service of veterans for their own PR campaign.
One vet is not falling for it.
The National Rifle Association is coming under fire (get it?) for an ad campaign using Oliver North (Yes, that Oliver North from the 1980s Iran-Contra arms scandal) to sell the message that kneeling during the National Anthem (a movement started by Colin Kaepernick against systemic racism and police brutality) somehow insults military personal.
Many vets are tired of being used by the organization in an attempt build political gain. Now vets are speaking against these harmful manipulations.
One USMC veteran, Steven Kiernan, took to Twitter to lay it all out and let the NRA know vets will not continue to be exploited.
In his tweet that has since gone viral Kierman says:
Hey @NRA I lost both my legs in Iraq and the only thing I'm upset over is not being able to kneel alongside them, yβ¦ https://t.co/wv1wskixCRβ Steven Stegosaurus π (@Steven Stegosaurus π) 1543636279.0
Wanna help support progressive vets push back against garbage like this? Check out @commondefense and sign up forβ¦ https://t.co/cjBgZhIczPβ Steven Stegosaurus π (@Steven Stegosaurus π) 1543708387.0
So many others added their support.
@MsgToObserver @NRA Wow I thought we take a knee to show we have a choice to kneel down for anything that we believe is wrongβ Lester Slaughter (@Lester Slaughter) 1543775844.0
@MsgToObserver @NRA The @NRA doesn't own the rights to patriotism. Period.β NateWill (@NateWill) 1543718146.0
@MsgToObserver @NRA Sending massive respect from the UK to you Steven ππ½β sara coxπ (@sara coxπ) 1543710214.0
@MsgToObserver @KevinGFox @NRA Why is the @NRA pushing the narrative the @NFL taking the knee is insulting the miliβ¦ https://t.co/QVtvEAmK7Iβ IdaGreyBenden (@IdaGreyBenden) 1543732066.0
@MsgToObserver @NRA Thank you for your service, and Common Sense statement! The right to kneel, seems to offend a dβ¦ https://t.co/zCslIcx0uAβ Bardinia Zielenski (@Bardinia Zielenski) 1543769499.0
@MsgToObserver @NRA https://t.co/fr06kWE7XAβ Randall (@Randall) 1543706339.0
@MsgToObserver @barbvee @NRA Service men and women, still being used and their sacrifices still being exploited.β Beam me up, Scotty. NOW!!! ππ» (@Beam me up, Scotty. NOW!!! ππ») 1543711957.0
Others were just as shocked at the choice of spokesperson.
@MsgToObserver @NRA And of all the people they could pick to represent them they pick good olβ Colonel North!! Getβ¦ https://t.co/jDlW40yAAAβ Riley the Tiger (@Riley the Tiger) 1543787169.0
@MsgToObserver @NRA .@NRA I served for their right to kneel. PS Ollie...we still remember what you did.β Lee Proctor π³οΈβπ #VetsResist (@Lee Proctor π³οΈβπ #VetsResist) 1543748215.0
Someone probably should have thought this branded message through.
H/T: The Guardian, Indy100