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Filmmaker Michael Moore says he was taught snipers were "cowards"
He says his war veteran father told him that after his uncle was killed by a sniper
Moore's statements come the same weekend "American Sniper" broke box office records
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore pronounced that “snipers aren’t heroes” in a tweet on Sunday as “American Sniper,” the Oscar-nominated biopic of a former Navy SEAL and sharpshooter, won the weekend box office.
The controversial tweet Sunday came as “American Sniper,” the Oscar-nominated biopic of a former Navy SEAL and sharpshooter, won the weekend box office.
“My uncle killed by sniper in WW2,” Moore tweeted. “We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse.”
The “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Bowling for Columbine” director later expanded on his remarks, saying: “But if you’re on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who’ve come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor.”
But Moore explained his tweet in a Facebook post:
“My dad was in the First Marine Division in the South Pacific in World War II. His brother, my uncle, Lawrence Moore, was an Army paratrooper and was killed by a Japanese sniper 70 years ago next month,” Moore wrote.
“My dad always said, ‘Snipers are cowards. They don’t believe in a fair fight. Like someone coming up from behind you and coldcocking you. Just isn’t right. It’s cowardly to shoot a person in the back. Only a coward will shoot someone who can’t shoot back.’”
Moore has long been a staunch advocate for stricter gun control laws in the U.S., and his statements are known to court controversy.
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But Moore stressed that his comments were not a jab at the movie “American Sniper,” which earned $105 million in weekend ticket sales and nabbed six Academy Award nominations last week, including best picture. The box office take trumped previous records for a January opening.
“I didn’t say a word about ‘American Sniper’ in my tweets,” Moore wrote on Facebook.
“Here’s what I think about American Sniper’: Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb!”
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Actor Seth Rogen equated the war drama to a Nazi propaganda film shown in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.”
“American Sniper” is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Chris Kyle. Kyle served four tours in Iraq with the Navy SEALs and is lauded as “America’s deadliest sniper.” He was not without controversy of his own, including disputed claims in his book that he punched former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and killed two armed carjackers. Kyle was shot and killed by a former Marine in 2013.
“American Sniper” is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Chris Kyle. Kyle served four tours in Iraq with the Navy SEALs and is lauded as “America’s deadliest sniper.”
He was not without controversy of his own, including disputed claims in his book that he punched former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and killed two armed carjackers.
Kyle was shot and killed by a former Marine in 2013.
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