Thread by @shannonrwatts

WTAF: Photos reveal that the NRA recently rallied with their candidates and THE PROUD BOYS in opposition to a commonsense gun safety ballot measure in Oregon. 🧵 #Measure114 #orpol

Measure 114 is a commonsense measure that would require background checks on all gun sales and prohibit the sale of high capacity magazines that make mass shootings even deadlier. It will appear on Oregon voters’ ballots next week. voteyeson114.org

Unsurprisingly, while the majority of Oregonians and Americans support background checks, the gun lobby has come out against this measure, and has leaned into tired rhetoric – from fear mongering to pretending gun safety laws are unconstitutional – to try and dissuade voters.

But theses extremists showing up on Oct 8 outside the Oregon State Capitol is more than just a special interest group opposing legislation that hurts their bottom line – rather, it's a perfect example of how deeply the gun lobby embraces extremism.

At a rally opposing the Oregon gun safety ballot measure, nearly two dozen “Proud Boys” who were in attendance were lauded from the stage.

And this wasn’t even the first time that the “Proud Boys” have shown up to support gun lobby activity in Salem.

https://twitter.com/MrOlmos/status/1388579168175071232

Did the NRA distance themselves? Of course not. They had an official speaker at the event, a tent with materials, and more. An NRA sign was front and center on a podium from which people called for President Biden to be charged with treason…

One speaker echoed the racist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that the Biden administration, United Nations, and drug cartels were purposefully importing “terrorists, murders, rapists, the unsavory from 174+ different nations into our country.”

Sadly, rallying with Proud Boys is who the modern NRA is. If you're in Oregon, or have friends and family in the state, this is Measure 114's opposition.

But, if you’re an Oregon voter who believes that commonsense gun safety measures make our communities and our families safer, I encourage you to learn more about #Measure114 and to VOTE YES next Tuesday 11/8. voteyeson114.org #orpol

And if you want to get involved in the movement to stop the NRA and the Proud Boys, join us: momsdemandaction.org/act/