The National Rifle Association isn't exactly known for its cultural sensitivity, but recently one of its spokesmen went too far.
Cam Edwards, host of NRA's radio program Cam & Company recent compared gun owners to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. His point? Both are the victims of persecution. It's hardly a fair or equitable comparison. Gun owners face the hardship of being asked to wait to buy a gun or deal with a background check. Meanwhile, transgender individuals are frequently beaten and murdered in hate crimes. Edwards' comments, though, assume that both groups face equal struggles. This kind of analogy trivializes the terrible hardships that the LGBT community has historically faced. Please join me in asking Cam Edwards to apologize for this comparison which trivializes the historic difficulties of the LGBT community.
Dear Mr. Edwards:
I was distressed to hear that you have compared gun owners to members of the LGBT community. I get it that you think gun owners are oppressed. They face the terrible hardship of a background check or being looked at sideways by their college professors. Members of the LGBT community have been beaten, murdered, and deprived of equal access to legal protection, marriage rights, employment, and housing. There really is no comparison. Unfortunately, your inept analogy has trivialized the struggles of LGBT folks. Please apologize for doing so.
