Newtown Residents Complain About NRA Robocalls

Calls urging pushback on gun control said to come at dinner time

Several people in Newtown have been on the receiving end of robocalls from the National Rifle Association. The calls started last week and many people on the other end of line are furious.

The National Rifle Association is calling residents urging them to contact their state legislators and push back against proposals for stricter gun laws.

The calls are stirring controversy and outrage in Newtown. People there are calling them insensitive.

"I was just kind of more shocked. That type of call would come to Newtown three months from one of the most horrendous tragedies and to call the town of Newtown didn't seem like the right thing to do," said Newtown resident Tom Maurath.

Maurath said he received the calls last week and believes it crosses the line from a political issue to one of right and wrong.

Tom and his neighbors are most upset that they have received the calls during dinner time. A time when the whole family is home including children who might not know the details of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Dan O'Donnell lives in Sandy Hook and said he never though about the gun debate until his town became the center of it and now robocalls are bringing the discussion to his doorstep.

"I have no understanding why they would be calling my house. Three calls in one week asking us to protect our Second Amendment Rights when I'm not a member of their organization," he said.

Dan said he supports efforts to explore more gun control legislation. The robocalls asking him to reject proposals for any new laws go against what he believes in and he finds them disturbing.

"It's ridiculous and insensitive. I can't believe an organization would be so focused on the rights of gun owners with no consideration for the losses this town suffered."

NBC Connecticut reached out to the NRA for comment and has not heard back. Federal law allows nonprofits like the NRA to issue unsolicited robocalls.

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