Image Source: (AP Images/Evan Vucci)
July 15, 2024
NSSF Condemns Attempted Assassination of Former President Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, condemns the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in the strongest terms. This attempt on the life, and wounding, of the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee is unacceptable. The criminal misuse of a firearm to take the life of any innocent individual is reprehensible. NSSF applauds the quick action of the U.S. Secret Service to protect the life of former President Trump and of the counter-sniper teams to neutralize the threat to him and innocent rally goers in attendance in Butler, Pennsylvania.
NSSF mourns the loss of innocent life. The victim of the murderer’s attack was exercising his First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly to support his candidate of choice for the Office of the President of the United States. We also continue to pray for those innocent victims who were critically injured in this heinous attack.
“This attack by a sick and twisted individual must be denounced by all those who cherish life, liberty and our nation,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “There is simply no room in American society for those who would resort to violence in order to threaten a candidate for President of the United States. This attempt on former President Trump’s life is clearly an attempt to disrupt free and fair elections, which are foundational to the preservation and advancement of our Republic. NSSF is tremendously grateful for all those in law enforcement who literally put their own lives in the line of fire to protect former President Trump, and for those well-trained and disciplined members of the Secret Service’s counter-sniper teams who neutralized the threat and secured the safety of all those in attendance at the rally. We continue to pray for healing for the former president, the family of the man who was murdered and the two innocent victims and their families in this unspeakable display of wanton violence.”
NSSF chose to refrain from any public statements in the immediate hours following this attempt on the life of former President Trump out of respect for the work of law enforcement to initiate their investigation. NSSF supports the full and thorough examination of all evidence necessary to understand how and why this crime was committed.
NSSF is committed to the bedrock principle that a society must engage in political discourse that embraces respect for our differences and resolves disagreements by making voices heard at the ballot box, free of the threat of violence regardless of political affiliation.
We are all Americans, no matter our political point of view. NSSF calls on all Americans, political parties and candidates to commit to civil political discourse. NSSF encourages everyone in America to denounce this violent attempt on the life of a former President of the United States and current candidate for The White House. The most effective manner to do so is to vote.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
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NSSF Media contact:
Mark Oliva
202-220-1340
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