This week, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) raised controversy by opposing a gun safety bill on the House floor while appearing to threaten to shoot her own grandchildren.
In her speech on Tuesday, the congresswoman said, “I have five grandchildren.” “I would risk everything to keep my five grandchildren safe. If necessary, I would even shoot them as a last resort to preserve my grandchildren’s lives. Lesko became more enraged and claimed that Democrats were attempting to “take away my right to protect my grandchildren” as well as “the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect their own children.”
Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, and other gun rights activists expressed concern about Lesko’s apparent priorities after her comments gained traction on social media on Wednesday. In response, the congresswoman released a statement that did not attempt to defend her position but rather attacked those who criticized her.
“The lengths gun control zealots will go never ceases to amaze me!” Lesko tweeted something. They misconstrued my speech about upholding the Second Amendment and my right to defend my grandchildren from violent criminals by claiming that I would endanger them. Absolutely absurd!”
Lesko, who narrowly prevailed in the special election for her Arizona district in 2018, has a history of making inflammatory remarks, such as anti-vaccine rhetoric prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, she received Donald Trump’s support for her bid for reelection in 2022.
Trump’s “fatigue” and “waking up” to politics again, according to Sarah Cooper.
