Even an NRA member is now speaking out against the fatal shooting of Philando Castile

Last week, the Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop was acquitted of all charges, and then fired.

Because Castile was black, this again raised the question of race. But some people, including me, also wondered whether this might represent a problem to the millions of Americans of all races who are licensed to carry guns.

Castile was licensed to have a gun and informed the officer he had one in his glove box – which is exactly what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to say “Officer, I have a handgun in the glove box,” and explain that it’s licensed.

But doing that may well be the reason he’s dead.

Yet, as several commentators have noted, in the year since this happened, the National Rifle Association, which is usually quick to defend the right to carry, remained quiet.

Except, now, one of the NRA’s online show hosts has spoken up. He’s Colion Noir – a lawyer – who does a series called Noir, which is focused on his passion for guns.

“When I’m stressed out, I won’t even think, it’s unconscious. I will go home, pull out guns, and start tinkering.”

But he also does a round-table of anti-gun people.

“Because you don’t have to agree with me just to understand it.”

Here was his comment on Facebook about the shooting of Castile. It was an open letter titled: “Philando Castile Should Be Alive Today.”

He writes:

… because of the negative stereotype reinforced in the media about black men and guns, it wouldn’t completely surprise me if [the officer] felt more threatened by Philando because he was black.

He goes on to say that as a lawyer he understands why the jury didn’t convict the officer involved in the shooting, but, “[officer] Yanez walking away from this case a free and clear man is just wrong.”

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