NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox Sets the Record Straight on Inaccurate NBC Story

On Tuesday, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox released a statement rebutting allegations made in an article that had appeared the same day on NBCNews.com.  The NBC article falsely reported that NRA will not oppose legislation being negotiated in the U.S. Senate that would mandate background checks for all gun purchasers.

As Mr. Cox noted in his statement, the NBC story alleged that NRA would not oppose expanding the background check system to include all private firearm sales, "provided the legislation does not require private gun sellers to maintain records of the checks."  This statement is completely untrue.  NRA opposes criminalizing private firearms transfers between law-abiding individuals, and therefore opposes an expansion of the background check system.  NRA continues to support meaningful efforts to address the problems of violent crime and mass violence in America, through swift and certain prosecution of violent criminals; securing our schools; and fixing our broken mental health system.

Since the false story broke, some unscrupulous groups have attempted to raise funds at NRA's expense by suggesting that NRA is "selling out."  Rather than focusing on setting the record straight and working to  oppose this proposal, these groups try--as they have in the past--to encourage people to blame NRA.  This type of divisive, misplaced exploitation and infighting is contemptible, and does a disservice to our collective efforts in defense of the Second Amendment.  NRA prefers to fight in Congress, where the real battle lies.

Please continue to contact your U.S. Senators and tell them to oppose "universal" background check legislation.  To identify and contact your elected officials in Washington, D.C., use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org, or you can reach your member of Congress by phone at 202-224-3121.