Like all toxic brands, the National Rifle Association isn’t above exploiting a tragedy to spread its agenda via social media. But unlike, say, Oreos, the NRA is eager to promote gun ownership, even if it means telling a big lie about civil unrest in Baltimore.

Among the many reporters relaying information from the tense city blocks of Baltimore, Justin Fenton of the Baltimore Sun is one of the best, and he’s already found himself in some very dicy situations this week. Yesterday, Fenton was confronted by angry and aggressive protesters—and according to the NRA, his life was saved when a virtuous gun-toting business owner intervened. The group plastered this proud moment in looming violence across its Facebook page to its 4.1 million followers:

Granted, the NRA’s post was based in part on a post by the disingenuous psychopath pack at Breitbart News, but it’s clear there was no effort to corroborate the claim—probably because it’d make such a tidy PR hit for the Second Amendment. But this didn’t happen;



.@AnnMarieAMG No. A group of gang members surrounded me, saying they were protecting me. The guy with shotgun was protecting his business April 28, 2015

Yes, Fenton was rescued not by a patriot’s shotgun, but by exactly the kind of person the NRA and Breitbart work so hard to make you fear:

This Rollin' 60s Crips member says he pulled @justin_fenton to safety today during a flare up. pic.twitter.com/UWMIkLCTV5 April 28, 2015

The NRA’s post has been shared over 3,000 times so far.

Photo: Getty