Story by Elizabeth Erwin, News Editor
Against heavy criticism, Oliver North, the incoming president for the National Rifle Association, addressed supporters during the Night Before Fancy Farm event on Friday, Aug. 3.
The event, held in Lovett Auditorium, was sponsored by the Marshall and Calloway County Republicans. In addition to North’s headlining appearance, the event featured speeches from 2018 American Legion Oratative Winner Carlissa Frederich and various local officials.
School safety was one of many subjects North touched upon in his speech, speaking just seven months after the deadly January shooting at Marshall County High School.
“I think what we need to do is refocus our efforts,” North said. “It ought to be that protecting our children while learning in classrooms is a national imperative. If we’re going to safeguard our kids from the madness and mayhem and murder like you all experienced at Marshall High School in January, something different needs to be done.”
North then continued to talk about the NRA’s School Shield program, a free NRA-funded resource available to schools.
“The School Shield program engages communities and empowers local leaders to make schools safer,” North said. “Schools and districts nationwide can apply for and receive National School Shield grants for pragmatic and effective security solutions.”
North said that the program suggests several ways to to help protect children in schools better, going beyond the often publicized idea of arming teachers.
“There’s a list of ways suggested to help protect children in schools better, and it’s not just arming teachers, as the left so ardently complains that’s what we want to do,” North said. “It’s a whole lot of things. We’re committed to helping protect America’s most precious resource, our children in schools.”
Although those in attendance greeted North’s speech with enthusiasm, approximately 100 protestors gathered three hours before the event to hold their own function titled, ‘Say NO to Oliver North.’
The protest involved several speeches from those impacted by gun violence including Hollan Holm, a Heath High School shooting survivor.
“I’m here today to support you and let you know that you’re not alone on this walk,” Holm said to the crowd. “To let you know that you are not alone in this fight. I’ve been there before and I am here with you now. I’m also here with you this afternoon to name my outrage at the utter indency of NRA President Oliver North speaking tonight, not 20 miles from Benton, over six months from what would have to be their worst day of their lives.”
The protest remained predominantly peaceful until NRA member Robert Johnson interrupted the event to make his own remarks. Johnson and several protestors engaged in verbal disputes until he eventually left the crowd.
“I just joined [the NRA] this past year, not because I own a gun, I don’t even own a gun,” Johnson said. “I don’t solicit; they never sent me mail information to go out and buy a gun. I joined because I’m hearing too much from the left, Democrats and other radicals that they want to take away the second amendment. That’s how we’ll get rid of gun violence. That’s not true. I support the NRA because they support the second amendment.”
Following the outburst, protestors marched to the steps of Lovett Auditorium chanting, “Shame!” as guests entered the event as well as “Children over guns!” and “No North, No NRA!”
Meanwhile during North’s speech, school safety was not the only topic up for discussion.
North also urged fellow Republicans to support the NRA and their party during the November midterm elections.
“We’re the party that wants less government, not more,” North said. “We like balanced budgets more than out-of-balance budgets. We like individual responsibilities and less taxes. We want to reward hard work well done. We’re the party of free enterprise, not socialists. We don’t redistribute the wealth; we want more of our citizens to be wealthy. We believe in religious liberty and not shaming those who choose to practice their faith.”
North continued to demonstrated his support by pledging to donate $500 of his own money to the Marshall County Republican Party. He then recruited 15 audience members to do the same.
At the conclusion of his speech, North was presented with several awards including the status of a Kentucky Colonel by 5th District State Representative Kenny Imes.