Disdain for First and Second Amendments!

[Tim Nunan]

http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/artic ... ents!.aspx

On Saturday night, millions of NASCAR fans will tune in to Fox to watch the NRA 500 NASCAR race. NASCAR fans are a natural audience to support NRA's message of safety, responsibility, and freedom and we are proud to sponsor this fantastic sporting event.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who has emerged as one of the most shrill and radical voices calling for gun control in the U.S. Senate, recently demonstrated that he holds the First Amendment in the same low regard as he does the Second.

In an April 11 letter to Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corporation, Sen. Murphy urged Fox not to broadcast the race.

In his letter, Murphy refers to "the NRA and its radical agenda". NRA's "agenda," which includes enforcement of existing laws against criminals, enhancing school security, and improving our nation's mental health system, while opposing a ban on private firearm transfers between family members and gun bans, is described in Murphy's screed as an "extreme position." In his warped world view, Murphy suggests the wholesale cancellation of the broadcast would "play a constructive role in our national dialogue" and says that unless Fox takes the extraordinary step of cancelling its broadcast, it would "be strengthening the brand of a radical organization that is currently standing in the way of meaningful progress on this issue" and will be giving "credence to an extreme organization."

In addition to exercising your First Amendment rights by contacting your U.S. Senators in opposition to S. 649 and all anti-gun amendments, take the additional step of exercising your right to free speech by contacting Sen. Murphy to express your outrage at his attempts to blackout this perfectly legitimate broadcast. Sen. Murphy's contact information is:

Washington Office
SD-B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4041
Fax: (202) 224-9750

Email: http://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Connecticut Office
One Constitution Plaza, 7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 549-8463
Fax: (860) 524-5091

[Tim Nunan]

http://cnsnews.com/blog/gregory-gwyn-wi ... test-event

In response to the controversy surrounding the National Rifle Association's (NRA) sponsorship of this weekend's Sprint Cup, NASCAR has announced that, going forward, it will be more involved in race-sponsorship decisions.

NASCAR spokesman, David Higdon said:

"The NRA's sponsorship of the event at Texas Motor Speedway fit within existing parameters that NASCAR affords tracks in securing partnerships.

"However, this situation has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions."

The NRA sponsorship was announced on March 4 in the middle of a heated gun-control debate that has yet to be resolved.

Many gun control advocates have decried the "NRA 500" and some have even called on fans to boycott the event.

The latest high-profile gun-control advocate to denounce the NRA's sponsorship was Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn).

Murphy wrote a letter to News Corp. CEO, Rupert Murdoch, in a plea to prevent Fox from airing the event Saturday night.

"I write today to urge you to not broadcast NASCAR's NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 13th," the letter reads.

"This race, which is being sponsored by the National Rifle Association (NRA), is going to take place during the Senate's consideration of legislation to reduce gun violence.

"The race not only brings national attention to an organization that has been the face of one side of this heated debate, it also features the live shooting of guns at the end of the race."

The efforts of the Senator and those who support his position have been widely reported in the news, but Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage says that only a few people have actually complained about the sponsorship decision.

"We've had fewer than a dozen responses," Gossage said.

"Of those, only two had purchased tickets. There is no controversy or big uproar or even a tiny uproar. As for this senator, I appreciate a good publicity effort as much as anyone."