OKLAHOMA: Gun Group Promotes Event With Rainbow Flag Shooting Target

Via Oklahoma City's NBC affiliate:

Organizers of an Oklahoma race are coming under fire for a picture they posted on their Facebook page. It appears they’re using the LGBT rainbow flag as a shooting target. The post angered many people who took it as a direct threat to the LGBT community. Event organizers say they did not expect the response they got and that it was all meant as a joke. The Oklahoma Run ‘n Gun is a biathlon combining running and shooting. They’re promoting their upcoming race in Pawnee on July 18 on their Facebook page, but some are saying one post went too far. “People got really offended and really upset and people were really feeling threatened,” said Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Troy Stevenson. The picture shows two men with rifles standing beside a rainbow flag and the caption reads “new high visibility targets on the 500 yard range.” “People took it as a threat, people felt very threatened,” said Stevenson.

Race organizers say the photo was meant to be "funny" and was posted because of complaints that less brightly-colored targets were difficult to see. Uh huh. The group has since taken down the image, saying that they are a "guns and fitness" organization, not a hate group. (Tipped by JMG reader William)