Thumbs down: A pro-gun pol’s semiautomatic response

Less than a week after 49 innocent people were gunned down at an gay nightclub in his own state, state Sen. Greg Evers has launched a campaign stunt - to give away an AR-15, the same type of semiautomatic rifle used in the Orlando massacre.|
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

This thumbs down goes to those who apparently believe we don’t have enough assault weapons in circulation - people like state Sen. Greg Evers, a Republican running for a congressional seat in Florida.

Less than a week after 49 people were gunned down at a gay nightclub in his own state, Evers has launched a campaign stunt - to give away an AR-15, the same type of semiautomatic rifle used in the Orlando massacre. His “Homeland Defender Giveaway” is only for residents of his district in the Florida panhandle. The winner will be announced on Independence Day. Groan.

Evers got the idea from a Tennessee state lawmaker who has been heavily criticized for holding a similar giveaway in his district. But at least that contest was planned before the June 12 attack in Orlando.

This candidate didn’t even have the decency to wait until all the funerals of the Orlando victims have been held. We hope voters of this district, which includes Santa Rosa County, will have the wisdom to send Evers packing. But, given the politics of that part of the South, we fear it’s more likely that this may just win him the election. We can only imagine what plans he has in store for Congress.

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