Senator Urges NASCAR To Reconsider Gun Rights Group Sponsorship Of Texas Race

The deal Texas Motor Speedway and the National Rifle Association reached to call next month's race the NRA 500 is not sitting well with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.

Murphy, who has been at the forefront of the national discussion on gun violence prevention in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December, is asking NASCAR to reconsider.

The Connecticut senator sent a letter to Brian France, chairman and CEO of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing on Thursday, urging him to reconsider the financial agreement that makes the NRA the title sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on April 13 in Texas.

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Agent009 - 3/11/2013 12:00:23 PM

+2 Boost

While I fully understand the sensitivity of the issue, honestly don't think NASCAR should consider this request.

Just by making the request you have drawn more attention to the race, encouraging the sponsorship in the future.

trmckin - 3/11/2013 1:05:05 PM

+2 Boost

Being that he is from Connecticut, I can understand the reasoning as many of his voters are going to have gun safety and/or control on their minds come the next election. However... as a voting taxpayer, there are bigger issues facing this country that he should be concerned with. It's NASCAR. The NRA won't be breaking into a new demographic with this sponsorship. Not to mention... it's a sponsorship. That's it. CNN gives the NRA more free press than NASCAR ever will.

1CarSmart1 - 3/11/2013 1:41:06 PM

-6 Boost

I champion this senator for doing the right thing. americans need to break their violence and gun addiction. A 20 bullet storage is just another way of saying "I have a small manhood". This is not the 17th century, we have mobile phones and emergency service 24/7!

trmckin - 3/11/2013 2:57:36 PM

+1 Boost

He's only giving them more publicity by doing this. No one could tell you who sponsored the last race and no one cares who sponsors the next race.

Also, a 20 round magazine doesn't say you have a small manhood. It says you have terrible accuracy. As for doing away with legally owned weapons, I think you will find a lot of people don't care for that method. Criminals will still have them no matter what law is implemented. Only way to curb gun violence is to make ammunition and reloading supplies very expensive and it's doubtful that would make much of a difference if any.

As for it being an addiction, no. It's not an addiction. It's a freedom. However, it's a freedom that has put weapons far too powerful in the hands of the common criminal. Those types of weapons should be heavily regulated. People should have to pass a series of tests, evaluations and undergo ongoing renewals to legally own and operate one. Similar to that of a pilot or drivers license if not tougher.

gungrabberssuck - 3/11/2013 2:17:35 PM

+6 Boost

1CarSmart1 you are part of the reason this Country is in a death spiral. Get your head out of your ass and stop fixating on penises. If you had any brains at all you'd know police investigate crime, they don't prevent it. You probably have the same opinion about people needing to know CPR. You think calling 911 and having "emergency services" respond to dp CPR on someone is going to save their life? By the time they arrive the person needing CPR will be dead.

1CarSmart1 - 3/11/2013 2:42:23 PM

-6 Boost

When american grows up and becomes more like Europe... Refined, well-balance, intelligent, more willing to work as a community, then it will also produce cars with these qualities. For now, the cars are unrefined, bad-handling, dumb, violent and more about individual selfishness... Just like the people.

trmckin - 3/11/2013 3:05:53 PM

+4 Boost

carsmart, you wouldn't know well balanced if it slapped you in the face. Your idea of well balanced equates to communism. If you want to continue the car repair comparison... sure. European cars are also with many faults... lots of electrical problems, drivetrain issues, costly to maintain, even more costly to repair, and usually so overpriced that they don't make sense to begin with. In other words... the idea is nice and initial quality is top notch but...they aren't built for the long haul and people really only drive them as status symbols. That is until they wise up and spend their money wisely next time around on something practical.

Dr550 - 3/11/2013 2:33:10 PM

+6 Boost

Why do the media/politicians not ask the television/movie/music/video game industry to tone down the violence?

nguyenvuminh - 3/11/2013 4:40:55 PM

-1 Boost

I think NRA sponsoring NASCAR is fine. Nothing beat the explosiveness of a race car event than the site of thousands of drunk people under the hot sun shooting at one another from an argument about Ford trucks being better than Chevy trucks.

bfghemicuda - 3/12/2013 11:25:02 AM

+1 Boost

Chris Murphy IS the problem. Nascar can have anyone they desire to sponsor there events. Let the Fans decide who they want. Murphy is just another jacka** liberal trying to strongarm the private sector.