Matt Gaetz really, really, really wants people to forget about that whole federal underage sex trafficking investigation he’s wrapped up in and he’s doing anything and everything he can to try and distract from it.
His latest effort has been to call for another insurrection, since the first one went over so well. Either that or a mass shooting in Silicon Valley. Whichever his supporters would prefer.
Speaking at an “American First” tour event in Georgia yesterday, the 38-year-old railed against tech companies and encouraged followers to stand up against “the internet’s hall monitors” by shooting them, if needed.
“Silicon Valley can’t cancel this movement, or this rally, or this congressman,” he said. “We have a Second Amendment in this country, and I think we have an obligation to use it!”
How about we take this to the next level?
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The remarks came just one day after after a gunman fired 39 rounds and killed eight people at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority property in San Jose, California.
Gaetz echoed his pro-gun/killing people sentiment again this morning on Twitter, falsely claiming: “The Second Amendment is not about hunting, recreation, or sports. The Second Amendment is about the ability to maintain, within the citizenry, an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary. I hope it never does.”
The Second Amendment is not about hunting, recreation, or sports.
The Second Amendment is about the ability to maintain, within the citizenry, an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary.
I hope it never does.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 28, 2021
All of this is clearly just another clumsy attempt to try and steer the headlines away from his teen sex scandal and onto something else.
The antigay lawmaker is accused traveling with a high school student to the Bahamas and paying her for sex in 2017. Federal investigators are said to be almost finished collecting evidence against him after both his former wingman and ex-girlfriend agreed to cooperate with detectives.
Gaetz, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, may have hoped making inflammatory remarks about guns and insurrections would do the trick and make people forget. Unfortunately for him, it did not.
Here’s how folx are responding to his tweet…
That’s absolutely not what its about. BTW, how’s the DOJ investigation going? Have you been served with a target letter, Rick?
— Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@lauferlaw) May 28, 2021
Sex trafficker weighs in on gun control.
— Paul Fuji (@PaulFuji4) May 28, 2021
Reporting this tweet.
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) May 28, 2021
What about age of consent laws what are they for?
— Brendel (@Brendelbored) May 28, 2021
— Doug Wise (@DougWise9) May 28, 2021
Are you fucking kidding me? How far you gonna push this?!
— Pepper (@PepperBuckley) May 28, 2021
Like a rebellion against a government official who rapes children? THAT kind of rebellion? Or just a rebellion against a government official who wants to help feed the poor, provide healthcare to citizens, and take care of the environment?
— Sgt Joker (@TheSGTJoker) May 28, 2021
When the FBI raids your home— you better be compliant.
— CB is Big Baby Jesus. (@ConservBlue2020) May 28, 2021
What do we do about pedophiles in government, Matt?
— Hoot (@NateHoot) May 28, 2021
Hey. Just stopping by to remind you that in the end, people aren’t going to take up arms to protect you from sex trafficking charges.
— Shannon Garrison (@JoanSGarrison) May 28, 2021
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
Republicans are anti-American. They’ve been preaching for YEARS that the 2nd amendment was so people could have guns to use against the government.
The only difference is that now the treason party isn’t hiding their hatred of American as well.
Polaro
Bingo.
Fahd
Like Jonah Ryan, he won’t back down. Some of the reply tweets are pretty funny and “on target”.
His supporters (Republicans) want a system where the government represses the entire population for the benefit of a minority; a modern day fascism/apartheid.
Let’s hope good people will do something – the leaders of the Republican party aren’t.
Mr. Stadnick
I find sad that this website spends so much time covering these vulgar morons like Gatez, Jenner Green et al but rarely if mention the pioneers of the gay rights movement. People like the Lesbian activist and photo journalist Kay Tobin Lahusen who recently died. But I guess alarmist and hyperbolic headlines get more clicks even though they have little content that isn’t cut and paste journalism.
Den
They have their sister site, owned by the same people LGBTQNATION to cover reall news and history of the LGBT struggle. Thus freeing Queerty to be the amusing and oft enraging blog that it essentially is.
mailliw110
So, why are you here? BTW- Your English needs some work.
Tombear
Gaetz is a child molester! #GOPbetrayedAmerica
Den
Gaetz, like so many right wingers is unable to grasp the concept of historical context (they are simply not analytical or critical thinkers). The founders feared insurrections favoring the BRITISH MONARCHY, they were not supporting the notion of citizens rising up against the constitution and government they had just formed. And they sincerely assumed that redress of grievances would take place in the manner allowed by the constitution.
The second amendment was not put in place so that authoritarian loving fascist yahoos might try to overthrow the government.
I cannot wait to see news of indictments against Gaetz, and real censure of MTG. Perhaps a few of their followers (and donors) will realize how they have been duped, if they are not ALL too darned stupid.
Jimmy
YOU ARE GOING DOWN!