There’s a rule regarding holes, and it’s quite simple: When you find yourself in one, quit digging.
But it seems that Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., never got the memo. Not only did she mock a senior citizen concerned about his safety, she claimed that magazines are ammunition that would disappear over time while speaking at a public forum on gun control in Denver on Tuesday.
After the story went viral Wednesday, her office issued a “clarification” saying that DeGette really meant to say “clips” instead of “magazines,” but as the Denver Post reported, those can also be reused.
The story begins with a question put to DeGette by a senior concerned that he would not be able to adequately defend himself if faced with an armed criminal.
DeGette brushed his concern aside, telling him that the local police would respond “within minutes,” prompting laughter. She followed that up with another statement that he would “probably be dead anyway.”
Video of that exchange can be seen here.
She also claimed that a ban on magazine sales was efficient because they would eventually disappear over time.
“What’s the efficacy of banning these magazine clips? I will tell you, these are ammunition, they’re bullets, so the people who have those now, they’re going to shoot them,” she said.
She went on to say that “the number of these high capacity magazines is going to decrease dramatically over time because the bullets will be shot and there won’t be any more available.”
Her comment drew laughter from members of the audience who clearly knew more about guns than she does.
CNS News said that DeGette “describes herself as a ‘prime house co-sponsor’ of the federal magazine ban – but her comments make it clear that she doesn’t understand what they actually are, since she’s confusing bullets with their reusable containers.”
But the plot thickened after the story went viral.
DeGette spokeswoman Juliet Johnson said Wednesday that the congresswoman “misspoke” and then issued another incorrect statement about guns.
“The congresswoman has been working on a high-capacity assault magazine ban for years and has been deeply involved in the issue; she simply misspoke in referring to ‘magazines’ when she should have referred to ‘clips,’ which cannot be reused because they don’t have a feeding mechanism,” Johnson said.
To its credit, the Denver Post called DeGette out on the statement.
“Actually, clips in most guns can be reused as well,” the Post said.
DeGette’s office, however, wasn’t finished, and attacked those who dared notice her gaffe.
“Quite frankly, this is just another example of opponents of common-sense gun violence prevention trying to manipulate the facts to distract from the critical issue of keeping our children safe and keeping killing machines out of the hands of disturbed individuals. It’s more political gamesmanship that stands in the way of responsible solutions,” Johnson added.
The NRA called DeGette’s comments “stupid” and GOP spokesman Owen Loftus said it’s “extremely alarming that Rep. DeGette is running federal legislation to ban magazine clips, when she doesn’t even know what a magazine clip is.”
“Rep. DeGette’s comments show that Democrats are more concerned with appeasing their radical base, than standing up for responsible, law abiding citizens,” he added.
But what is even more frightening is that DeGette is in Congress making laws about a subject she obviously knows nothing about, and her comment to the senior citizen worried that he might not be able to defend himself demonstrates a callousness and arrogance many have come to expect from the left.
Twitchy said that several people took DeGette to task for her latest gaffe, and one Twitter user summed up the situation quite nicely.
“It would be funny if it weren’t terrifying.”
Related:
- Colorado Dem. says number of magazines will decrease as bullets are used up
- Colorado Dem. corrects gun gaffe with incorrect statement about clips
- Colorado Dem. mocks senior citizen at gun control forum over self defense
- Gun rights advocate: Obama could ‘ban all handguns’ using U.N. treaty
- Connecticut lawmakers propose eligibility certificates for ammo purchases, more
- Gun control activist calls for measure to ‘counterbalance’ Second Amendment
- Dana Loesch, Grover Norquist school Piers Morgan, Van Jones on gun control
- Chris Matthews compares gun rights supporters to Nazis, flubs movie reference
- Store rescinds Mark Kelly’s AR-15 rifle purchase, questions intent
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