Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attacked the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Thursday after the organization posted a video of her running away from their broadcast team and shouting about “white supremacy.”
The NRA posted the video on its Twitter feed Wednesday with the title “The Squad Is Coming For Your Guns,” which showed an NRA representative questioning Ocasio-Cortez and fellow freshman Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley near their offices on Capitol Hill over their support for gun control. (RELATED: Things Are About To Get A Lot Worse For Ilhan Omar)
Except for Omar, who actually stopped to talk, the video showed the other three congresswomen yelling at, attempting to ignore, and finally hiding from the NRA’s broadcast team all while avoiding basic policy questions about firearms and the Second Amendment.
“They called us mass murderers, white supremacists, and terrorists,” the NRA wrote of the congresswomen. “Let’s send a clear message that they will never take our guns.”
There was a hearing today to ban semi-automatic rifles, so we thought it was an appropriate time to ask The Squad their thoughts on our #2A rights.
They called us mass murderers, white supremacists, and terrorists. Let’s send a clear message that they will never take our guns. pic.twitter.com/Joe0A0hfXY
— NRA (@NRA) September 26, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez responded on Twitter by calling for the NRA to release the full video. She also took a shot at the organization’s recent financial issues, asking “Aren’t y’all broke?” (RELATED: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Falsely Claims D.C. Was The First U.S. Territory To Abolish Slavery)
“Hey (NRA) why don’t you release my full, unedited interview?” she asked. “I think the public would like to see it in full. Releasing it is the right move – unless of course you think it’ll make you look bad.”
Hey @NRA, why don’t you release my full, unedited interview?
You know, the one where my first answer to your question was “Aren’t y’all broke?”
I think the public would like to see it in full. Releasing it is the right move – unless of course you think it’ll make you look bad. https://t.co/kOXfkOERFF
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 26, 2019
The back and forth comes as Congress continues to debate possible gun control legislation following several mass shootings in the month of August.
Update: This copy was edited to more accurately convey the contents of the video and the congresswoman’s tweet.