After receiving word that the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) over financial troubles, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, saying they would donate to the pro-gun group if a couple of demands were met.
Here's a copy of the letter PETA provided to Townhall (notice their puns that they put in italics):
Dear Mr. LaPierre,
I'm writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, some actually NRA members, in response to reports that your organization is up against the wall, in deep financial trouble. I'd like to shoot an idea by you. To help your floundering organization get out from under the gun and come closer to today's ideals, we would be willing to help you if you reject as members those who engage in the cruel practice of hunting wild animals—such as Cecil the lion—for pure entertainment. To put this in your crosshairs, PETA aims to give the NRA $100,000 if you make this your immediate target.
As you know, nonsubsistence hunters kill millions of animals every year and have contributed to the extinction of species all over the world, including theTasmanian tiger, the Zanzibar leopard, and the dodo. It's also extremely common for animals to be injured by hunters, escaping only to die slowly and painfully from blood loss or starvation. Cecil, for example, was shot with a steel arrow by an American tourist and NRA member, then left to suffer for about12 hours before he was finally shot yet again by this wretched man.
Killing animals where they live and raise their families for a cheap thrill or a trophy is cowardly, and future generations will look back with disgust on this blood pretend-sport. You can really hit the mark by adopting a new initiative that recognizes what's out of control here. The head count is in—only5percent of the U.S. population now hunts, and the sale of hunting licenses and the number of people hunting today have decreased. That means that there are now more vegans in the U.S. than there are people who hunt, given that at least 6 percent of Americans now eat exclusively plant-based food. Most people enjoy seeing animals without feeling the perverse need to shoot a steel arrow or bullet into them, wounding them grievously or ending their lives. There is no excuse to orphan a baby deer, leave a bear wounded to die slowly over several days, or take the lives of birds by blasting them out of the sky.
To receive our donation, we'd also require that the NRA stop its promotion and end its support of assault weapons, which are used against exotic animals and domestic humans. I hope you'll bite the bullet and pull the trigger on our offer. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
According to PETA, the $100,000 will come once the NRA promises to "deny memberships to trophy hunters...and stop promoting assault weapons, which are used to harm and kill both wildlife and domestic humans."
Townhall asked PETA what they define as an assault weapon and if an AR-15 falls into that category.
"We're using the standard definition, which, according to Merriam-Webster, is 'any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms.' The AR-15, which can fire up to 45 rounds a minute, has been used to kill many human and nonhuman animals," PETA spokeswoman Megan Wiltsie said.
PETA says that should the NRA decide to take the money, a written agreement would be the best way to ensure that the pro-gun group holds up to their end of the deal.
The animal rights group said they're willing to wait and see if the NRA adopted their desired policies before making the negotiations.
"That is something that we'd be willing to negotiate with the NRA, should it take us up on our offer," Wiltsie said.
The NRA did not respond to Townhall's request for comment.
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