Linc Sample is a resident of Maine who has been the source of controversy in his town of Boothbay Harbor for a sign placed on his lawn that reads “Black Rifles Matter.” Sample told local media that the sign, which also reads, “Yes we have ‘em. No you can’t take ’em” is about gun rights, not race.
Some were nonetheless perturbed by the sign, which clearly takes its name from the Black Lives Matter movement. One person wrote “It makes light of the black lives movement to compare them to black guns. Find your own tag line, man.”
Sample painted and erected the sign after encountering an advertisement supporting an assault-style weapons ban. He also posted a statement on his social media account explaining that the sign is on private property and that he’s exercising his right of freedom of expression.
This isn’t the first time that a word play on ‘Black Lives Matter’ has come under scrutiny. As recently as a month ago ‘Black Olives Matter’ poster was erected at an Italian restaurant in New Mexico, allegedly for marketing purposes. The poster also sparked outrage and made national headlines.
