Leno Drops Out of Gun Lobby Event After Protests from Newtown Group

Jay Leno was scheduled to perform at an event hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a national gun trade association, but backed out after complaints by gun violence prevention groups.

The NSSF (which, by the way, is based in Newtown, Connecticut) is holding its annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in January, and Leno was scheduled to perform. But according to Mother Jones, several anti-gun violence groups protested, including Newtown Action Alliance. Its chair Po Murray expressed disappointment with Leno for agreeing to perform when the NSSF “is the corporate gun lobby and they spend a significant amount of money to lobby congressional leaders to not pass significant gun reform legislation.”

There was also a petition to get Leno to back out of speaking.

But hours later, Leno did actually back out, and gave this explanation:

“I understand it’s Newtown, and of course I get it,” Leno told Mother Jones. “It’s just sometimes, mistakes get made.”

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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