“Shoot Republicans,” was the message a GOP committee member angry about Obamacare encouraged Arkansas voters to consider.
The anger stemmed from lawmakers’ decision to choose the private option on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), and was expressed in the Benton County GOP Committee newsletter for the month of April.
Committee member Chris Nogy, husband of the group’s secretary, issued an article through the newsletter entitled “Scathing.” In it, Nogy referred to Obamacare as one of “the biggest mistakes of our generation,” but it got worse from there.
Nogy didn’t blame Democrats for towing their party line. He conceded that it was expected of them. Republicans, who control both the Arkansas Senate and House, however, came under harsh scrutiny.
“I don’t feel the same way about the Democrats as bullet backstops as I do about the Republicans who joined them,” Nogy said. “Part of me feels that this betrayal deserves a quick implementation of my Second Amendment rights to remove a threat domestic.”
So there would be no doubt Nogy meant business, he added that the Second Amendment “means nothing unless those in power believe you would have no problem simply walking up and shooting them if they got too far out of line and stopped responding as representatives.”
“It seems that we are unable to muster that belief in any of our representatives on a state or federal level, but we have to have something, something costly, something that they will fear that we will use if they step out of line.”
Nogy continued: “If we can’t shoot them, we have to at least be firm in our threat to take immediate action against them politically, socially, and civically if they screw up on something this big. Personally, I think a gun is quicker and more merciful, but hey, we can’t.”
The full rant can be read on the Benton County GOP website.
Naturally, the state’s Republican leaders have expressed strong opposition to the remarks, something they’ve had to do frequently within their party as of late.
As recently as Friday, Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter reprimanded Rep. Nate Bell for an ill-advised tweet making light of the Boston Marathon bombing .
On the topic of “Scathing,” GOP lawmakers wasted little time in their condemnations.
In comments to Talk Business Arkansas , state Senator Jon Woods, a Republican, said he was “embarrassed for the Benton County Republican Committee for including this article in their newsletter.”
“I would think the Benton County Committee would have better judgment and not allow this to be sent out,” he added.
Republican Rep. Micah Neal also spoke to TBA , calling the comments “scary,” adding, “I don’t appreciate it,” and Rep. Tim Summers, acting Benton County GOP Chairman, agreed.
“The letter was not approved and Mr. Nogy had no authority to submit it through the newsletter,” Summers said.
While Nogy’s comments were certainly alarming, it’s improbable that he’ll be taking up arms any time soon.
Still, if the worst parts of Obamacare are actually true , there may not be anywhere Arkansas Republicans can hide. Not even here:
What do you think about the committee member’s eagerness to shoot Republicans over Obamacare in Arkansas? Is this freedom of speech or crossing a line towards criminal behavior?
[Image via miker / Shutterstock.com ]