Gun group responds to 'silly' story by pointing rifle at Rand Paul

The Virginia-based firearms advocacy group that published an image this week depicting a rifle pointed at President Barack Obama's head, attached a letter by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), responded to Raw story's reporting on Friday by turning the rifle around and pointing it at the Kentucky Republican instead.

"A silly story, and an even sillier concern, as no violence was intended nor implied," Dudley Brown, executive vice president of The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), told Raw Story in an email. "However, we changed the direction the rifle points. Hopefully, the Senator won’t object now."

It's not clear if Sen. Paul asked the group to change their image, and his spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

The campaign is just the latest NAGR to feature Paul’s face and signature. As a candidate, Paul was largely ignored by the more rank-and-file Republicans with the National Rifle Association (NRA), but NAGR championed his campaign, endorsing Paul before any other politician in the last election cycle. He’s returned the favor too, appearing in previous fundraising emails for the group.

The latest fundraiser appears to warn that the president is attempting to ban millions of rifles -- a claim The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence called "fantasies."

President Obama has not advocated for any form of national gun ban, and has actually signed several measures that enhance the rights of gun owners.