Republican Congresswoman Debbie Lesko of Arizona's 8th District gave a very baffling speech about gun control bills on the House floor on Tuesday, in which she said she would shoot her own grandchildren to protect them.
Lesko said:
"I have five grandchildren. I would do anything, anything to protect my five grandchildren, including as a last resort shooting them if I had to to protect the lives of my grandchildren."
"Democrat bills that we have heard this week want to take away my right, my right to protect my grandchildren."
You can see the segment from C-SPAN here:
\u201cAllow me to introduce you to Congresswoman Debbie Lesko of Arizona, who is currently running for office unopposed in her district.\n\nShe would like America to know she loves her grandchildren so much she would shoot them if necessary. \ud83d\ude33\n\nBut liberals are the problem, right? \ud83d\ude0f\u201d— Ryan Shead (@Ryan Shead) 1657045188
She then went on to criticize all gun control legislation, in addition to the specific bill she was originally commenting on.
Lesko—who has a past of various fraud allegations under a list of aliases—said of red flag laws:
"They want to take away the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect their own children and grandchildren and wives and brothers and sisters. This bill takes away due process from law-abiding citizens."
The online backlash for her comments was swift and strong.
\u201cI am alive today because Debbie Lesko wasn\u2019t my grandma\u201d— Sam Youngman (@Sam Youngman) 1657152589
\u201c@samyoungman So wait let me get this straight\u2026 @ScottAdamsSays he would\u2019ve shot his kid if he had to today and now everyone is saying they\u2019re gunna shoot their kids if they have to? We\u2019re in such a weird place\u2026 \ud83e\udee0\u201d— Sam Youngman (@Sam Youngman) 1657152589
\u201c@samyoungman Ya mean this Debbie Lesko? \n\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffb\u201d— Sam Youngman (@Sam Youngman) 1657152589
\u201c@RyanShead \u201cSorry kids, you won\u2019t be sleeping over at grandmas anymore.\u201d\u201d— Ryan Shead (@Ryan Shead) 1657045188
\u201c@samyoungman\u201d— Sam Youngman (@Sam Youngman) 1657152589
Lesko has since tried to spin the online pushback as "gun control zealots" trying to twist her words.
\u201cIt never ceases to amaze me the lengths gun control zealots will go! They turned my speech about protecting Second Amendment rights and my right to protect my grandchildren from violent criminals into a claim I would harm my own grandchildren. Absolutely ridiculous!\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
Twitter users weren't going to let her do it though.
Especially Fred Guttenberg, father of one of the teens killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
\u201c@RepDLesko Let me be clear @RepDLesko, here is the video. You said it, it was reprehensible. This is who you are. This is why people like me work to defeat people like you. I am not a "gun control zealot" but I am the father of Jaime who was murdered in Parkland.\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
\u201c@RepDLesko \u201cI have 5 grandchildren. I would do anything to protect my grandchildren including as a last resort shooting them to protect the lives of my grandchildren.\u201d\n\nYeap. You did say it and no matter how much you deny it, you said it!\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
\u201c@RepDLesko You'd shoot your own grandchildren to protect unmitigated gun rights.\n\nWho would you abort of the six right wing judges to protect abortion? \n\nDebbie Lesko can't admit she made a mistake. Those are precisely the people who shouldn't own guns. \nhttps://t.co/mucNDQ3Pfj\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
\u201c@RepDLesko How many times have you publicly attacked President Biden, claiming he doesn\u2019t make sense when he speaks? \n\nBut that\u2019s your argument now?! \ud83d\ude0f\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
\u201c@RepDLesko Just say you misspoke. Read your own words out loud. Not a conspiracy- it\u2019s what you actually said. Might not be what you meant but it is, in fact, what you said. Who else would \u201cthem\u201d be in that sentence.\u201d— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@Congresswoman Debbie Lesko) 1657144148
Lesko is currently running unopposed for reelection in Arizona's 8th District.
