The National Rifle Association is being criticized for posting a tweet co-opting the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to advocate for concealed carry permits.

“Today, the men and women of the NRA honor the profound life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” the tweet, which includes a GIF of Dr. King, begins. “Dr. King applied for a concealed carry permit in a ‘may issue’ state and was denied. We will never stop fighting for every law-abiding citizen’s right to self-defense.”

Today, the men and women of the @NRA honor the profound life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King applied for a concealed carry permit in a "may issue" state and was denied. We will never stop fighting for every law-abiding citizen's right to self-defense. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/wtSQOO5Kaq

— NRA (@NRA) January 21, 2019

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As many on social media reminded the NRA, Dr. King was assassinated by a sniper at long range. He was not granted a concealed carry permit because he was Black. And had he been granted a concealed carry permit it would have made no difference. Sadly, he still would have been shot dead.

You do know that Dr. King was killed by a sniper over 200 ft away; an escaped convict who still managed to buy a rifle and scope from a sporting goods store. A concealed carry permit would not have saved King, but mandatory wait periods and stronger background checks might have.

— Kate (@KateERyan) January 21, 2019

Some noted that the NRA has ignored the killings and murders of Black people who legally were carry registered guns, like Philando Castile. Castile was shot dead by a police officer after telling the cop he had a gun. Castile’s girlfriend was live-streaming the interaction with police on Facebook, and despite shooting Castile seven times, the officer was acquitted. The NRA said nothing until weeks after the verdict.

Except we all heard crickets from y’all when Philando Castile, a citizen with a concealed carry permit and registered weapon was gunned down by a cop for following instructions in front of his girlfriend and her daughter. Y’all truly make me sick.

— Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken (@MelissaNymeros) January 21, 2019

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Others accused the NRA of being in bed with Russia. The gun lobbying group has admitted to taking money from Russia-linked donors. Russia is a hostile foreign power that attacked the U.S. election system in 2016, and has worked for years, before and since, to disrupt American democracy.

More fitting picture for the .@NRA and .@waynelapierrejr imho. pic.twitter.com/t02QQxIX0p

— Derek M. Lacey (@DerekMLacey) January 21, 2019

In just five hours the NRA tweet has received nearly 900 comments, the vast, vast majority of them attacking the gun lobbying organization.

Here’s a small sampling:

And the @nra has actually found a new low

— Joshua Israel (@jeisrael) January 21, 2019

oh my fucking god

— Rebecca Schoenkopf, Wonkette Editrix, King Of You (@commiegirl1) January 21, 2019

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This is like the most absurd and tasteless appropriation of a cultural icon possible. This post was terrible and you should feel terrible.

— Engineer Extraordinaire (@RaleighC) January 21, 2019

He was assassinated by an escaped violent felon who bought his Winchester .30-06 rifle legally and without a background check under a false name just 5 days before the assassination. The store that sold it is still in business today. https://t.co/x8is3UtKAD

— Zeddy (@Zeddary) January 21, 2019

Dr King might have a different opinion on gun laws now, but we won’t ever know because he was assassinated— with a gun. Please don’t use Dr King’s legacy to try to sell more guns.

— Dr Liz (@HornsUp4POWOW) January 21, 2019

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https://twitter.com/imillhiser/status/1087406747910918145

Ah yes, there were laws passed in the 1960's designed to keep African Americans from owning guns. These laws were lobbied for by an organization called… *squints at history book*
The NRA. https://t.co/nJ7S8HeBq0 https://t.co/ollDYd39xH

— Chris 📷 (@remley_c) January 21, 2019

Peak white people is the NRA commemorating MLK as a champion of gun rights. https://t.co/uWseKjCZIv

— David "Free Paul Crowther" Moore (@dtmooreeditor) January 21, 2019

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