“With terrorism incidents on the rise...protecting our constitutional rights has never been more important."From: NewNowNext
In the wake of the horrific June 12 mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, many people around the world have been inspired to do good by hosting vigils, memorials and benefits to honor the 49 lives lost. One Florida lawmaker, however, has been inspired to do the opposite by launching a contest whose winner will receive an AR-15 assault rifle hand-crafted by the lawmaker himself.
Greg Evers, a Florida state senator currently running for a seat in the United States congress, announced the “Homeland Defender Giveaway” contest on his website this past Monday. To win the rifle, which comes inscribed with the Second Amendment, constituents merely have to be 18, like his Facebook page and pass a simple background check. Evers decided to hold the raffle to boost his cachet with pro-gun conservatives in the Florida Panhandle.
“With terrorism incidents on the rise, both at home and abroad, protecting our constitutional rights has never been more important,” Evers said. “With all that’s happening in the world today, I’ve never felt stronger about the importance of the second amendment in protecting our homeland than I do now.”
The announcement, made just eight days after the shooting at Pulse nightclub, was met with immense criticism by Twitter users who railed against the Senator for his insensitive timing.
.@gregevers I realize you couldn't care less about my opinion, but here it is anyway. #despicable pic.twitter.com/ytMuF3kav7— Jenn (@ServireAude) June 21, 2016
@gregevers You win the bad taste award. Classless. @NRA is utterly shameless.— city bumpkin (@erinlambi) June 21, 2016
@gregevers A disgrace as a human being, a laughingstock as a representative. I am utterly ashamed to call you a fellow American.— etgb78 (@etgb78) June 20, 2016
@gregevers Thank you for adding your name to my NEVER WILL VOTE FOR list.— Lizabeth S. Tucker (@LizabethSTucker) June 21, 2016
.@gregevers What's the next giveaway? Perhaps a thermonuclear warhead? We may need a new word for you because stupid doesn't really do it.— HipHughes (@hiphughes) June 21, 2016
When the New York Times asked Evers if he’d been ill-advised to hold the contest so soon after the immense tragedy, he merely commented that there’s no “bad time to protect yourself.” He went on to say that though his heart “goes out to the victims and their family and friends” he doesn’t believe “in offering just political platitudes—[he believes] in taking action.”
Taking action, as defined by Evers, apparently means equipping civilians with a rifle that was banned in the United States until 2004 and used by mass shooters in Newton, Aurora, San Bernardino and, most recently, Orlando. His contest falls on the same week that the United States Senate voted down four separate measures aimed at controlling the sale of firearms.
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