Team USA shooting gold medalist says gun control is ‘distracting’ from her sport
By Josh Hill
Shootist Ginny Thrasher is lashing out at gun control in the country she took home gold for at Rio.
The Rio Olympics are in full swing, and American from all corners of the country are competing to bring home gold.
One of those athletes is Ginny Thrasher, a 19-year old shootist with some things to say about what is going on in her country. Thrasher took home the gold medal for shooting this weekend in Rio, and proceeded to lash out at gun control back home.
"“Some of the [controversy surrounding] gun laws in America is just distracting from our sport, which is very different,” Thrasher said. “I just tried to focus on the competition.”"
She continued to say that those of us up in arms about not having enough background checks for gun purchasers need to check ourselves.
"“I shoot 500 to 1,000 rounds a day, having to do a background check every time I purchase ammo or when I bring ammo out for a competition or a match – those are very, very challenging for me,” she said."
Rather than push back at Thrasher over her opinion, let’s use it to further the conversation about gun control. There seems to be a black-and-white veil over the conversation where you’re either for gun control or for kids getting shot.
That’s a dangerous line in the sand to draw. I’m very much for gun control in America and think guns need to be regulated — but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to conversation.
If what Thrasher says is true and she indeed has this difficult of a time getting ammo for something she does as a sport and something she brought gold medal pride to her country for, then there’s a gap somewhere in the process that needs to be filled.
There’s nothing more American than winning a gold medal for shooting things, but also admitting we can talk about things without getting up in arms about what a 19-year old said.