NRA comments on Philando Castile shooting without using his name

Gun rights organization obliquely refers to shooting death of black man who
was carrying concealed gun after criticism from racial justice advocates

Lois Beckett
Friday 8 July 2016 23.22 BST

After a day of fierce criticism over whether it cares about the second amendment rights of black Americans, the National Rifle Association posted a statement late Friday in response to the death of Philando Castile, an African American man shot to death by a police officer during a traffic stop.

Without mentioning Castile’s name, the gun rights organization called the reports of the 32-year-old’s death “troubling” and said they “must be thoroughly investigated”.

The aftermath of Castile’s shooting by a Minnesota police officer was broadcast live by his girlfriend, who said officers, identified as Jeronimo Yanez and Joseph Kauser, had stopped the car and asked Castile for his license and registration. She said Castile told the officers it was in his wallet but that he also had a pistol he was licensed to carry, and that the officer shot him as he moved his hands, despite Castile’s efforts to comply with the officer’s orders.

The NRA was silent for more than 24 hours after news of Castile’s death emerged overnight Wednesday – a day after Alton Sterling was shot dead by police in Louisiana, with what looked like a gun in his pocket. The criticism from racial justice advocates was seething:

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]