LaRue Tactical, manufacturer of precision rifles, optics mounts, and other rifle accessories, is well-known for their bumper stickers saying, “God Bless Our Troops, Especially Our Snipers.”
That’s because LaRue understands that military snipers place themselves at immense risk to protect the rest of our troops. This has included--during the Global War on Terror--making it dangerous for adversaries to try to hide improvised explosive devices and mines along our troops’ lines of travel when a disciplined, highly-trained man behind a telescopically-equipped rifle is watching.
Many other Americans apparently understand this as well. American Sniper, Clint Eastwood’s new movie about Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (who holds the record for the confirmed number of enemy personnel killed), is setting box office records and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Unfortunately, some Americans don’t appreciate the sacrifice and service of brave warriors like Chris Kyle. One such person is Michael Moore.
You’ll recall that, in 2002, Moore disparaged America generally and the NRA in particular in his movie, Bowling for Columbine. This week, he demonstrated that NRA members aren't the only armed Americans he despises by marking the release of American Sniper with a tweet suggesting that Kyle and other snipers are “cowards,” adding, “Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse.”
To make sure people knew who he meant by “invaders,” Moore continued, “if you’re on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles [roughly the distance from the U.S.A. to Afghanistan or Iraq], you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor.”
Chief Petty Officer Kyle, who received, among other military awards, two Silver Stars and Five Bronze Stars with “V” for valor, died in 2013. Thus, even if he were inclined to have dignified Moore’s comments with a response, which is doubtful, he is unable to do so. Instead, Kyle is being defended, and Moore is being criticized, by Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer (USMC), former Army sniper Sgt. Nicholas Irving, Kid Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, Laura Ingraham and many others from varying walks of American life. Sgt. Irving, apparently taking Moore’s “neighbor” comment at face value, even suggested that Moore be airlifted to Afghanistan to see those neighbors for himself.
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