Conservative African-American leaders spoke out against President Barack Obama’s call for more gun control on Friday, some saying the proposed measures have “racist” origins.
“For black Americans, we know that gun control has ultimately been about people control. It sprouts from racist soil; be it after the, or during the infamous Dred Scott case where black man’s humanity was not recognized,” said Niger Innis, spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality at the press conference sponsored by the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.
Harry Alford, the president of the Black Chamber of Commerce, praised the National Rifle Association in his speech at the event.
“The National Rifle Association was started, founded by religious leaders who wanted to protect free slaves from the Ku Klux Klan,” said Alford.
“They would raise money, buy arms, show the free slaves how to use those arms and protect their families. God bless you. Many of us probably wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the NRA.”
Alford told The Daily Caller he agrees with Innis that gun control laws have “racist” origins.
Some of the leaders argued that cities with the most crime have the strictest gun control laws.
“How many children have to die, black and white, for us to come to the conclusion that most of the gun violence is in cities with the most gun control? When are we going to change our minds and put some common sense in there?” said Ken Hutcherson, former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys and pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Washington state.
“This current administration is far from the truth,” said William Owens Jr., founder of God, Guns and the Constitution.
“When they take our guns, they will also seek to take our God, and that’s when Americans will fight back.”
Obama met with a group of African-American leaders on Thursday including Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP president to discuss public policy issues.