Assemblymember Simon And Senator Persaud Respond To Threatening NRA Tweet

After an NRA-sponsored publication tweeted a photo of state Senator Roxanne Persaud (D – 19th Senate District) and state Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (Assembly District 52) , the two Brooklyn lawmakers — as well as many politicians in New York City and around the country — responded by condemning the threatening imagery that was used.

A statement released by Assemblywoman Simon stated “the NRA’s threat against Senator Persaud and myself is another example of how the NRA attacks those who seek reasonable solutions to the growing crisis of gun violence.”

The tweet displays photos of both Assemblywoman Simon and Senator Persaud with four bullets placed to the right of their photos. One bullet is partially resting on Assemblywoman Simon’s photo with a bullet pointed towards her face.

At the moment of this posting, the tweet still remains on the Twitter feed of America’s 1st Freedom, an NRA-sponsored publication.

In an article in the Daily News by Senator Persaud, she writes “placing bullets on pictures of elected officials, especially when we know that elected officials have been targeted by violent extremists in the past, is reckless and dangerous.”

Assemblywoman Simon and Senator Persaud introduced legislation last month that would limit the amount of ammunition purchased per gun. A gun owner would be able to purchase no more than twice the capacity of any weapon for every 90 days. Assemblywoman Simon has referred to this an an “anti-stockpiling bill.”

“Reasonable people can disagree but still come together to find common ground,” Assemblywoman Simon said in her statement. “I challenge the NRA to stop the bullying, act like civilized human beings, and join the national dialogue to make our neighborhoods and country safer from all threats, foreign or domestic.”

The photo coincides with President Obama announcing executive actions for gun control enforcement.

The Daily News also points out that the tweet came four days before the fifth anniversary of the shooting of former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Assemblymember Simon represents all or part of several Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Park Slope and Gowanus.

Senator Persaud represents the 19th Senate District, which is located in southern Brooklyn and includes East New York, Canarsie, and Mill Basin.