‘It’s an Assassination Threat’: Democratic Lawmakers Slam Trump for ‘Second Amendment’ Remarks
Senators and Congressmen Express Outrage Over Trump’s Remarks
Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut is no stranger to gun violence. He had just been elected when the unspeakable attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School, leaving 20 first graders and six teachers and administrators dead. He’s spent his entire career in the Senate advocating for gun control reform and gun safety. He’s made countless speeches honoring the Sandy Hook victims, and led a filibuster in June to get the Senate to act on gun control, after the Pulse mass shooting hate crime terror attack in Orlando.
So when Senator Murphy talks about gun violence, people listen.
Today, in the wake of Donald Trump’s remarks calling for “the Second Amendment people” to take action to ensure Hillary Clinton doesn’t get to appoint justices to the Supreme Court, Murphy took to Twitter:
Murphy suggested Trump may have violated the law:
Casual reading assignment tonight: federal criminal statute on threatening to kill a candidate for President. https://t.co/db549T54lr
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
He called it “disgusting and embarrassing and sad”:
Was @realDonaldTrump suggesting his supporters shoot Hillary? Shoot her nominee? Who knows. It’s all so disgusting and embarrassing and sad.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
He warned of the consequences:
This isn’t play. Unstable people with powerful guns and an unhinged hatred for Hillary are listening to you, @realDonaldTrump.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
And he called it what it is: “an assassination threat”:
Don’t treat this as a political misstep. It’s an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy & crisis.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
Senator Murphy isn’t alone.
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell also expressed outrage. The California Democrat called for the Secret Service to investigate and warned, “We must take people at their word.”
Donald Trump suggested someone kill Sec. Clinton. We must take people at their word. @SecretService must investigate #TrumpThreat.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 9, 2016
Senator Elizabeth Warren also took to Twitter, blasting Trump:
.@realDonaldTrump makes death threats because he’s a pathetic coward who can’t handle the fact that he’s losing to a girl.
— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) August 9, 2016
Your reckless comments sound like a two-bit dictator, @realDonaldTrump. Not a man who wants to lead the greatest democracy on the planet.
— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) August 9, 2016
Saying “we must draw a bright red line between political speech and suggestions of violence,” former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who nearly lost her life after an assassination attempt, spoke out today, in a joint statement made with her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly.
“Responsible, stable individuals won’t take Trump’s rhetoric to its literal end, but his words may provide a magnet for those seeking infamy,” the statement reads. “They may provide inspiration or permission for those bent on bloodshed.”
They called on Trump and all Republicans “to unambiguously condemn these remarks and the violence they insinuate,” as Talking Points Memo reports.
EARLIER:
Clinton Campaign Responds to Trump’s Call for ‘Second Amendment’ Violence Against Her
Former CIA Director Weighs in on Trump’s Call for ‘Second Amendment’ Violence Against Clinton
Secret Service Is ‘Aware’ of Trump’s ‘Second Amendment’ Comments Against Clinton
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Images:
Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren, Eric Swalwell, via Wikimedia
Image of Gabby Giffords by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license

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