Man Shoots self in infield at NASCAR NRA-500
Source: Yahoo
The death of a man in the infield of Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday night during the Sprint Cup Series NRA 500 has been ruled a suicide from a gunshot to the head, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office.
The incident happened late in the race when Kirk Franklin, 42, of Saginaw, Texas, apparently got into an argument with other campers. Track spokesperson Mike Zizzo said Saturday night that the incident happened "in or around a pickup truck" in the infield.
Firearms were prohibited by Texas law from being brought in to the track by fans. The NRA's sponsorship of the race came under scrutiny when it was announced earlier this year after Michael Waltrip ran a Sandy Hook benefit car at the Daytona 500 encouraging fans to text to give to Newtown, Conn. It was the NRA's first Sprint Cup Series sponsorship; it sponsored the Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speeedway in September.
Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/man-shoots-self-infield-nra-500-214951761--nascar.html
Who is surprised that someone would shoot themselves in the head at the NRA sponsored NASCAR race today?
Tender to the Bone
(93 posts)No question about it.
And more reason for gun control.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)But anyway, welcome!
maxrandb
(15,192 posts)Could have been way worse. From what I can understand, even though the NRA sponsored the race, GUNS WERE NOT ALLOWED...hmmmm, I wonder why? Whatever is the NRA afraid of? Perhaps someone should ask the NRA why they are "infringing" on the 2ND Amendment rights of folks attending a NASCAR race.
I'm just speculating here, but I wonder if this guy had a "concealed carry" permit?
jmowreader
(50,453 posts)but Speedway Motorsports Inc. doesn't allow fans to carry weapons at its tracks, and they have several.
Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)You weren't joking, were you?
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)thucythucy
(7,986 posts)supporting that. I've gotten into debates with pro-gunners and raised precisely this point, but have been told it's a myth.
I've never been to and have no intention of ever going to NRA headquarters (or any NRA sponsored event) so there's no way for me to know personally. And I've tried the almighty Google, and didn't come up with anything I could use.
So if you have a link, it would be greatly appreciated.
Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)Apparently, staffers with carry permits are allowed to carry. Visitors are not. Still very contradictory to what they preach.
Mopar151
(9,965 posts)Texas Motor Speedway is owned by Speedway Motorsports/O. Bruton Smith (IMHO, that is spelled asshole).. I have NEVER heard a race sponsor get so little mention in the race broadcast (on FOX Sports, no less).
NASCAR will evaluate future race sponsorships: With the NRA 500 drawing attention just for the name of the race, NASCAR will take a closer look at race sponsorships in the future, the sanctioning body said in a statement Thursday. Tracks negotiate their own naming rights deals, and Texas Motor Speedway announced last month that the National Rifle Association would sponsor its Sprint Cup Series race, scheduled for Saturday night. The sanctioning agreement tracks have with NASCAR states that "NASCAR reserves the right to approve or disapprove any advertising, sponsorship or similar agreement in connection with the event." NASCAR approved the sponsorship, and Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said Thursday there has been no public outcry over the sponsorship. But NASCAR spokesman David Higdon released a statement that indicated the timing of a sponsorship and the perception of NASCAR will be used to determine whether to approve race sponsorships in the future. "The NRA's sponsorship of the event at Texas Motor Speedway fit within existing parameters that NASCAR affords tracks in securing partnerships," the NASCAR statement said. "However, this situation has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions." Sporting News)(4-12-2013)
quoted on the Jayski/ESPN website.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)Did he have his head up his ass for the last 3 months?
There have been more than a few petitions and movements to get drivers & teams to boycott the race, to get FOX to not show the race, and by the weekend, several teams instructed their drivers to NOT GIVE INTERVIEWS because they knew the NRA would come up.
Mopar151
(9,965 posts)And he works in Texas, so "public outcry" would have to be pretty big, to get over the background noise.
brewens
(13,400 posts)the same thing.
maxrandb
(15,192 posts)This is sad, and I hate to poke fun at tragedy, but...there was booze, guns, the NRA, NASCAR and a pick-up truck all mentioned in the article.
SNL couldn't do a better job of satire if they tried.
brewens
(13,400 posts)his pork rinds.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)I really don't know how to respond to a story this bizarre.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Could the decision have been that impulsive - really an extreme reaction to an argument. As said by Lynryd Skynrd: if you like to drink old whisky you might even a-shoot yourself.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)...but he accidentally shot himself while getting the gun to shoot the other people he was arguing with.
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)too many gun regulations. That is our biggest problem.
maxrandb
(15,192 posts)ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)for the original guy's bullet before it hits him, and the second for the good guy's bullet which was not well aimed!
Mkap
(223 posts)It can't get anymore redneck conservative republican then that...
and btw i laugh at the liberals being starbucks drinking hipsters too
santamargarita
(3,170 posts)I've tried to enjoy this sport but during Bush Hell it changed.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Bettie
(15,998 posts)You'd think if they're pursuing their hobby, it would be something they'd enjoy, yet the pictures I see are always of rather sour looking people.
Just an observation.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)One_Life_To_Give
(6,036 posts)The rest are backing a Looser.
The stands come to life when Junior gets out front.
Within the crowds I have seen lots of smiling faces and had fun conversations with those seated around me. Like most things in life there are a few that drink to much, a few that made the NRA sponsorship a political football. And the majority of us who worried how the nights action affected our favorite drivers standings, chase implications and a host of other issues. e.g. Will the fire in Matt's pit bring a change to the fuel venting/filling system and how will that affect 14 second pit-stops.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)Mind-boggling...
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)I don't understand why crazy people get so upset every time we talk about trying to keep guns away from crazy people.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)baldguy
(36,649 posts)What? Was the nearest elementary school not opened?
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)The best part is that guns are not supposed to be allowed there. Really? I thought the NRA believed guns should be everywhere. Or is it just in schools and not at racetracks?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,789 posts)Mnpaul
(3,655 posts)would be illegal in Texas. I watched the last half of the race and saw little mention of guns or the NRA.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)But wants them EVERY DAMN PLACE ELSE.
Pretty telling, eh?
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)that you cannot have a 223, then your banner will be shoved up your ass while your illegal arms are confiscated.
The final picture would be the firearms NOT confiscated.
Damn babies crying about losing a few weapons.
NickB79
(19,114 posts)Even the most stringent gun control proposals grandfather in existing firearms and magazines. No guns will be confiscated anytime soon, and if there were a retroactive ban imposed, the owners would be entitled to be compensated for the market value of the guns confiscated (ie a shitload of money).
hack89
(39,171 posts)as long as you buy them before the "ban" goes into place.
No one is confiscating any guns. That is just a NRA fear tactic.
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)yet it's a RW talking point which won't go away just for that reason.
No real hunter is worried that their sport is being harmed.
Why does the NRA logo show 2 crossed long rifles when their focus is clearly on military types.
Heston held up an 1845 (?) Enfield, not an M-16.
Why?
hack89
(39,171 posts)Every generation of men has grown up with a certain type of rifle that many carried in the army. When they came back from the war, they wanted to buy the types of rifle they familiar with. The line between civilian and military weapons has always been blurred - those bolt action "hunting rifles" that gun controllers magnanimously say we can keep were the same rifles that killed millions in two world wars.
The AR-15 is a 50 year old design. It is what two generations of men think of when they think of the word rifle. That is the reason why they are so popular - plain and simple.
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)While the older M-1, M-14 and their lineage were long barrel for accuracy, the M-16 and its variants were designed specifically to be an urban assault weapon.
The short barrel sucks for accuracy but is ideal for storming apartment buildings and other areas with narrow hallways.
I haven't seen any game living in apartment buildings, have any of you?
This has more to do with the childish mentality of Americans and their fantasies.
I wish they would go back to Lionel trains and playing with the kids.
I do believe that certain ranges should have everything from machine guns to grenades, tanks to LAWS rockets.
If you can afford the ammo, have fun. You just can't bring them home.
hack89
(39,171 posts)is when smaller calibers and compact rifles became the norm. It was not for urban combat - everyone figured out that most combat was at 300 yards or closer. It was a universal lesson of WWII.
The AR-15 is a very accurate rifle out to 600 yards - there is a reason it is the standard for competitive target shooting. Here is the the standard course of fire for High Power Rifle competitions:
1. Slow fire (10 shots in 10 minutes), standing at 200 yards
2. Rapid fire (10 shots in 60 seconds with reload), sitting or kneeling, at 200 yards
3. Rapid fire (10 shots in 70 seconds with reload), prone, at 300 yards
4. Slow fire (20 shots in 20 minutes), prone, at 600 yards
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Power_Rifle
I shoot my AR-15 in these competitions all the time. 80% of the rifles around me are AR-15s - and they shoot just as well as the M-1s.
Aristus
(66,096 posts)go in front of thousands of people who will at least appreciate your chosen method.
valerief
(53,235 posts)Squinch
(50,774 posts)Zip it, will ya?
bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)eom
samsingh
(17,571 posts)on point
(2,506 posts)lib87
(535 posts)Texas has long stopped doing so.
I hope this story is news on Monday.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Fearless
(18,421 posts)Response to maxrandb (Original post)
Post removed
Turbineguy
(37,212 posts)shoot a bunch of people he didn't even know first. That was decent of him.
dembotoz
(16,739 posts)but that would be consistent
Myrina
(12,296 posts)n/t