Some residents in Newtown, Conn., say they're outraged at receiving robocalls from the National Rifle Association only three months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.
Town residents say the automated calls from the NRA began last week and urge people to tell their state legislators to oppose gun control proposals. Lawmakers are debating whether to ban military-style assault weapons, prohibit high-capacity ammunition magazines and other measures in response to the school shootings.
"I was just kind of more shocked," said Newtown resident Tom Maurath. "That type of call would come to Newtown three months from one of the most horrendous tragedies and to call the town of Newtown didn't seem like the right thing to do."
Maurath said he received the calls last week and believes it crosses the line from a political issue to one of right and wrong.
Maurath and his neighbors are most upset that they have received the calls during dinner time. A time when the whole family is home including children who might not know the details of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Dan O'Donnell lives in Sandy Hook and said he never though about the gun debate until his town became the center of it and now robocalls are bringing the discussion to his doorstep.
"I have no understanding why they would be calling my house," he said. "Three calls in one week asking us to protect our 2nd Amendment Rights when I'm not a member of their organization."
Local
Dan said he supports efforts to explore more gun-control legislation. The robocalls asking him to reject proposals for any new laws go against what he believes in and he finds them disturbing.
"It's ridiculous and insensitive," O'Donnell said. "I can't believe an organization would be so focused on the rights of gun owners with no consideration for the losses this town suffered."
Messages seeking comment were left with the NRA, which like other nonprofit groups is allowed to make robocalls under federal law.
A gunman killed 20 first-graders, six educators and himself in December after shooting his mother to death.
