The tragic shooting that unfolded in Uvalde, Texas, last week, which resulted in 19 elementary school kids and two of their teachers being killed, is prompting some people to rethink their attitudes towards guns.
Not Matt Gaetz.
Yesterday, someone on Twitter asked Gaetz to explain, “Why do civilians need AR-15? Honest question.”
Gaetz replied, saying, “Target sport, self defense, hog hunting, Just to name a few…”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Target sport
Self defense
Hog huntingJust to name a few… pic.twitter.com/jzsPnT0lel
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) May 29, 2022
The shooter in Uvalde used a semiautomatic, AR-15-style gun. The military version of the weapon is designed to kill people quickly and in large numbers. Advocates for more restrictive gun laws say there are no recreational purposes for such a gun.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton introduced a ban on such weapons. Mass shootings in the US subsequently fell. The ban was overturned in 2004 and shootings began rising again, as did sales of AR-15 style guns.
Florida Rep. Gaetz, who fancies himself something of a defense expert judging on the way he gleefully attempts to ridicule senior military figures in his role on the House Armed Services committee, perhaps knows something about AR-15s that others don’t.
Related: WATCH: Matt Gaetz thought he could get one over on the military. He was wrong.
Many were quick to trash his claims, including Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg.
It’s kids who are being hunted. If you want an AR-15 fine but you should need a l license, thorough training, detailed documentation of ammunition and where the weapon is and stored, a in-depth background check. Come on- these are kids. Let’s find some common ground
— David Hogg 🌻 (@davidhogg111) May 29, 2022
If you need an AR-15 to go hog hunting, or any kind of hunting, then you are too untrained to hunt. If you cannot hit a target without an AR-15 then you are too untrained. If you need it for self defense then you are too untrained. Trained gun owners don’t need AR-15’s.
— Mr. Spock 🖖 (Commentary) (@SpockResists) May 29, 2022
Using an automatic weapon to hunt is not hunting. That’s slaughtering & blowing something to pieces & wasting food. Automatic weapons of war are for just that, war. You need a weapon with 15 to 30 rounds or more to protect yourself from what exactly? Zombie apocalypse?
— Angi Buhr 🇺🇦 🇺🇲 🌊😷💉🌈🏴☠️🦙 (@mousears7) May 29, 2022
All of which can be done without military-grade weaponry.
Be honest Matt. Americans have been successfully doing all those things for hundreds of years before the AR15 and it’s ilk. The long gun finally became too dangerous, that is the problem.
— Once Republican – 🇺🇦 (@oncerepublican) May 29, 2022
Matt, obviously you never do these things because an AR-15 is the wrong weapon for all 3 of these. Especially self defense, where it’s not only cumbersome but likely to spray bystanders with bullets.
— Jesse Hare (@RancidGinger) May 29, 2022
If hunting is your answer than you have no business hunting because a real hunter doesn’t need a weapon that fires multiple rounds to take down their prey. Hunters pride themselves on their marksmanship and ability to not obliterate their kill. They go for a single kill shot
— pamarrington (@pamarrington7) May 29, 2022
What a meaningless reason. Prioritizing this over children’s safety is irresponsible.
— Kevin ☕️🎶 (@KevinSixx13) May 29, 2022
In his Twitter bio, David Weissman, the man who posed the question to Gaetz, says he’s a military vet. Gaetz has no military background. Even other gun owners questioned Gaetz’s knowledge on the issue.
Target sport: I use a .22 (10 round capacity)
Self defense: I use a 9mm or my .45 (8 round capacity)
Hog hunting: haven’t been yet, but would probably go with my 300 win mag (4 round capacity)
No need to use an AR with a high capacity mag for any of these activities.
— Kyle (@1kyleshorten) May 29, 2022
Still do not need an assault rifle for ANY of these reasons. I am a gun owner and there is no reason on this earth I need an assault rifle. NONE!
— Mary Bruno (@MaryBruno_) May 29, 2022
Related: Matt Gaetz’s latest tweet backfires spectacularly
Meanwhile, another lawmaker in Florida saw her own tweet on the issue of school shootings go viral. Annette Taddeo is a Democratic Senator who’s running in the state’s gubernatorial election this year.
An opponent of the state’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, Taddeo posed a question that resounded with many. It’s had nearly 300,000 likes at the time of writing.
“I’m just curious why it’s age-appropriate for kids k-5 to learn about hiding under desks and not that sometimes people have two dads.”
I’m just curious why it’s age appropriate for kids k-5 to learn about hiding under desks and not that sometimes people have two dads.
— Annette Taddeo (She/Her/Ella) (@Annette_Taddeo) May 27, 2022
Jim
So would Matt Gaetz let someone with a loaded AR-15 walk into his office??
BennyTheHell
You hit the nail on the head. All of these lawmakers who fail to keep people safe from gun harm rest easy at night with the knowledge that, for the most part, only “their side” possess and carry guns.
If I were more of an activist, I would create huge national billboard and TV campaigns such as “Guns for Immigrants” “Firearms for F@gs” “Lethal Weapons for Libs” “Munitions for Minorities” — all seemingly aimed at urging each of these groups to proudly and openly embrace their firmly established 2nd amendment rights. Flood Texas media markets with these campaigns, buy tons of ad minutes on Fox news (similar to the Lincoln Project). Troll conservative social media with altered images and video showing these marginalized groups embracing gun ownership and the NRA lifestyle. Plant fake “breaking news” of members of these groups successfully “standing their ground.”
The resulting uproar among conservative snowflakes would be quite a spectacle. You would likely see immediate action in state legislatures, as they try to finesse new laws to LIMIT gun ownership for the first time ever – but how to do it so only the “wrong” people are denied their guns? The hypocrisy of conservatives would be on full display as they tied themselves in knots.
Heywood Jablowme
@BennyTheHell: Great idea, but here’s some history you seem unaware of:
“The NRA Supported Gun Control When the Black Panthers Had the Weapons
Back in the 1960s, even the NRA supported gun control to disarm the group.
“On May 2, 1967, 30 fully-armed Black Panthers occupied the California state Capitol. The demonstration was motivated by Republican Assemblyman Don Mulford’s bill to repeal the law allowing Californians to openly carry weapons, a direct response to the Black Panthers’ “police patrols.”
Kevan1
Yes, we know what he means by target sport. Maybe he can play target… just for laughs.
Heywood Jablowme
Maybe he meant a mass shooting at a Target store.
James
HE IS AN IDIOT.
humble charlie
i can see a use for it when a grizzly bear is running at you. i don’t see it for children cowering in fear in a classroom.
Joshooeerr
Somebody should now invite Matt Gaetz to demonstrate how he’d use an AR-15 for target practise or hog hunting. There’d be nothing left of his target or his hog, so it would utterly defeat the purpose. Even then he’s probably too thick to get it.
fredk3
an AR-15 is a useful weapon to have around to discourage pedophiles from getting to teens.
storm45701
Now that’s silly… Catholic priests don’t carry AR-15s.
Riff
I think the best way to use these guns is to give them to the parents, who could patrol the campus at the school, where their children attend. Think about it, parents and teachers together for the benefit of the children. I doubt you would see and cowardice behavior.
CNY1983
serioulsy folks, and this isnt a rodney dangerfield spoof, take a look at that face on matt gaetz. if that was your face looking back at you in the mirror wouldn’t you question whether charles manson was really your father and the people who raised you former spahn ranch”hands”?
by the way has anyone seen ginger luckey lately or did she survive that plane crash?
Jimmynj
AR-15s are only used for hunting innocent people. If it was used for hog hunting, Matt Gaetz would have been taken out a long time ago.
Mister P
Civilized societies would not hunt anyone with guns whether they were pedophiles or not.
Parents and teachers patrolling schools is a terrible idea.
Bob
How true. Do you want 94 year old aunt Bessie with a rifle around YOUR kids?? I think not. A militant father proving how much testosterone he has wouldn’t be much better.
ZzBomb
Irony is indeed dead if the right is now, and once again, claiming we should arm teachers when just several months ago they were claiming teachers weren’t qualified to teach and are “grooming” children.
radiooutmike
It died a long time ago. You have to be smart or at least clever to understand irony.
johncp56
Scummy sticky creep!
humble charlie
there’s a need for one if you’re underage and matt gaetz’s hair comes at you with a raging pompadour.