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NRA bragged victory with pro-gun tweet as Boulder judge ruled out AR-15 ban, slammed as 'accomplice to murder'

In the wake of the mass shooting in Colorado, the NRA has come under fire for celebrating its victory in a case last week, when a judge ruled out a ban on the possession of assault weapons

The National Rifle Association is coming under fire for celebrating a victory in a case where a judge blocked Boulder, Colorado, from enforcing its two-year ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in the city, in the wake of the mass shooting in the city. A gunman opened fire in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, killing at least ten people, including a police officer. This is the second mass shooting in the country in a week.

The suspect was handcuffed and taken away by the police and the shooting is currently under investigation. The police have not yet disclosed any motive for the attack. According to reports, Matthew T Kirsch, the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colorado said that the FBI and other federal agents will be assisting in the case. 

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One of the victims was 51-year-old Eric Talley, an 11-year veteran on the Boulder force. Talley was responding to the shooting at the King Soopers grocery market where he was gunned down. He was called to the scene with fellow officers at about 2:30 p.m. at 3600 Table Mesa Drive and fatally wounded.

In the wake of the mass shooting, the NRA has come under fire for celebrating its victory in a case last week when Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman ruled that the city could not enforce its ordinance banning the possession, transfer, or sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines because state law says local governments cannot prohibit the possession or sale of firearms.

The Boulder City Council had passed two ordinances in 2018 banning the possession of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.

After the ruling, the official Twitter account for NRA tweeted, "ICYMI: A Colorado judge gave law-abiding gun owners something to celebrate. In an @NRAILA-supported case, he ruled that the city of Boulder’s ban on commonly-owned rifles (AR-15s) and 10+ round mags was preempted by state law and STRUCK THEM DOWN."

Now, the NRA and Judge Hartman have come under fire in the wake of the mass shooting in Boulder. One user tweeted, ".#JudgeAndrewHartman, how much did you get paid for blocking the ban on assault rifles? Was it worth the lives of the 10 people murdered today? Judge Andrew Hartman Resign Now!" Another user tweeted, "Photo of people fleeing a mass shooter in Boulder. Note to the NRA: this is not freedom. It is the opposite of freedom." A user wrote, "Officer Eric Talley was sadly killed today in the Colorado mass shooting. The NRA, MAGAs, & “Blue Lives Matter” folks continue to ignore that firearm reform makes the lives of cops safer too. Minority rule is literally killing us. Abolish the filibuster & pass reform. Period."

One user pointed out, "Thanks to the NRA, Boulder Colorado's ban on AR-15s and large-capacity magazines was struck down last week. Today, a white guy legally carrying an AR-15 walked into a King Soopers market and killed ten people with it. The NRA is an accomplice to mass murder." Another wrote, "#BoulderCO The NRA celebrates while Coloradans were killed shopping for groceries. The NRA celebrates and courageous BPD police officer, Eric Talley, first on the scene, was killed in the line of duty. The NRA’s interference in the laws of @bouldercolorado led to today’s deaths."