The NRA has been under the gun for months thanks to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last December. Their problems were further exacerbated when a man shot himself in the head during the NRA sponsored 500 Spring Cup at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday.
The man in question was Kirk Franklin of Saginaw, Texas. According to Reuters, Franklin, 42, shot himself in the head after arguing with other fans that were camped outside of the race. The report also indicates that alcohol may have been involved in the altercation and that Franklin's body was found in the back seat of a pickup in the infield campground.
"The NRA's sponsorship of the event at Texas Motor Speedway fit within existing parameters that NASCAR affords tracks in securing partnerships," NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said. "However, this situation has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions."
Prior to the tragedy, the event had already stirred a lot of controversy. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy had asked for the race to not be televised on Fox while Texas Motorway Speedway's President Eddie Gossage battled to convince others that fans were not upset about the sponsorship from the NRA.
"This celebration of guns is inappropriate in the immediate wake of the Newtown massacre," Murphy stated. "But most importantly, broadcasting this race, which will highlight the NRA and its radical agenda during this time, sends a harmful signal to the families affected by gun violence, as well as the millions of Americans who support sensible gun control measures and enjoy your sports programming."
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