Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(HOUSTON) — The hard-charging publicity arm of the National Rifle Association is engaged in an increasingly vicious Twitter battle with Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, as the firearms organization struggles to contain fallout from yet another mass shooting.
The result has been a multi-day social media battle between Houston’s top law enforcement official and a prominent and outspoken NRA personality. On Tuesday, the dispute escalated to include threats of legal filings, references to Nazi Germany and suggestions of inappropriate surveillance.
After last Friday’s mass shooting at Santa He High School in Texas, which left ten people dead 13 wounded, Acevedo posted a desperate and emotional plea on his Facebook page[1] to do something about gun violence.
“I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I’ve hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue,” Acevedo wrote. “Please do not post anything about guns [not being] the problem and [that] there’s little we can do.”
“This isn’t a time for prayers, and study and inaction,” he continued. “It’s a time for prayers, action and the asking of God’s forgiveness for our inaction.”
He followed up the comments on CBS News’ Face the Nation, calling on the public to vote out lawmakers “that are doing nothing” on gun violence.
NRATV, a combative video production and social media operation that frequently targets perceived opponents of the gun organization, soon released multiple videos of NRATV hosts and guests criticizing Acevedo over his statements on gun violence and his so-called “sanctuary city” stance.
“I call him a political hack, in many respects, because he does the bidding of left-wing city officers that hire him,” NRATV
