Florida billionaire Jeff Greene began running as a Democratic primary candidate for governor just last month, and the state’s primary takes place late next month.
Several outlets reported Tuesday that Greene sent out a mailer criticizing the NRA, paired with images of gun target that featured a child’s silhouette (backpack and all) as the quarry. The target was marked with the NRA’s logo, which appears above the words “AR Practice” (which TWS Fact Check assumes stands for “Assault Rifle,” with all the potential commodifications that go alongside such a loaded term).
Does the NRA actually market targets featuring children?
The TWS Fact Check Photo Forensic Review Board (FCPFRB for short) analyzed the photo—through the excruciating process of searching it on Google, a skill we recommend all internet users adapt—and discovered that the image is built around free clipart from the category “student silhouette.”
The image of the gun target, even though it was not clarified as such in the mailer, is not actually from the NRA.
“As a father,” the mailer reads above the targets, “I won’t stand by while the NRA turns our kids into targets.” It continues: “TRUMP & Tallahassee Republicans are owned by the NRA, I would never take their blood money.”
Nothing on the document states that the image was fake, satirical, or the like. A spokeswoman for the NRA told TWS Fact Check that the target was not from the association. “When people can’t win on fact, they have to resort to cheap stunts like this,” says the executive director of Florida’s NRA affiliate Marion Hammer.
The logo, PO Box number, and other disclosures on the document match those found on Greene’s campaign website, but TWS Fact Check was unable to independently confirm that the mailer was from the campaign.
TWS Fact Check reached out several times to Greene’s campaign to no avail. Greene, however, appeared to defend the ad on Twitter.
It’s “repulsive” the NRA buys out politicians like @adamputnam who put weapons in as many hands as possible–regardless of the potential consequences. I’m not scared of the @NRA, and I’m not for sale. As Governor, I’ll keep our kids safe. #FlaPol #FLGov https://t.co/acehUXCSsw
— Jeff Greene (@JeffGreeneFL) July 24, 2018
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