April 1995: NRA: ‘Jack-Booted Government Thugs’ Have ‘Government’s Go-Ahead’ to ‘Murder Law-Abiding Citizens’

The National Rifle Association (NRA) issues a statement claiming that “jack-booted government thugs” have “the government’s go-ahead to… murder law-abiding citizens.” Former President George H. W. Bush quits the NRA in protest. The Southern Poverty Law Center will later say that the NRA is echoing “Patriot movement” and other anti-government rhetoric. [Southern Poverty Law Center, 6/2001]