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Published On: Tue, Apr 30th, 2013

Native American themed gun control billboard called by ‘offensive’ ‘insensitive’ by critics

Billboards featuring an image of  Native Americans are used to make a gun rights argument are causing a stir with some Colorado residents who say the image is offensive and insensitive.

The billboards show three men dressed in traditional Native American attire and the words “Turn in your arms. The government will take care of you.”

native american indians gun control government billboard cMatt Wells, an account executive with Lamar Advertising in Denver, said Monday that a group of local residents purchased the space.

“They have asked to remain anonymous,” he said.

He also refused to disclose the cost but said the billboards are only appearing in the Greeley area. Wells said he has not received any complaints so far.

“I think it’s a little bit extreme, of course, but I think people are really worried about their gun rights and what liberties are going to be taken away,” Wells told the Greeley Tribune .

Greeley resident Kerri Salazar, who is of Native American descent, said she was livid when she learned about it. She said she doesn’t have a problem with the gun rights message, but she’s offended the Native American people were singled out, apparently without their consent.

“I think we all get that (Second Amendment) message. What I don’t understand is how an organization can post something like that and not think about the ripple effect that it’s gonna have through the community,” she said.

Irene Vernon, a Colorado State University professor and chairwoman of the ethnic studies department, said the message on the billboard is taking a narrow view of a much more complicated history of the Native American plight. She said it’s not as if Native Americans just gave up their guns and wound up on reservations.

“It wasn’t just about our guns,” said Vernon, a Native American.

 

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About the Author

- Catherine "Kaye" Wonderhouse, a proud descendant of the Wunderhaus family is the Colorado Correspondent who will add more coverage, interviews and reports from this midwest area.

Displaying 5 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. a. marine says:

    Well spoken. This message is hard hitting, in your face , and leaves no room for arguement or interpretation( in a normally rational mind anyway).

    As for those who would try to put some sort of bullshit sense of guilt on the rest of us,

    GET A LIFE/JOB!!!!!!!

  2. gordy says:

    i am native american and you white eyes had better pay attention to that message, nothing offensive about it, the only so called natives who are outraged are just b.i.a. stooges.

  3. Todd says:

    I’m not native american but I still don’t understand how this could be offensive when it’s just history

  4. Wayne says:

    Can I get this on a bumper sticker?

  5. dark_xopher says:

    We all should be offended. Not for the picture of Indians, for the fact we must remind people of our dark past to keep it from repeating itself. People have blown this PC thing way out of proportion. I am willing to bet, tribes of old would be the ones who would put this picture up. Anyone offended by this is a nut job, and obviously is dealing with guilt of there own actions.

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