Republican nominee says ‘Second Amendment people’ could do something to make sure his rival does not get to pick Supreme Court justices
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested that “Second Amendment people” — gun owners — could stop Hillary Clinton from winning the White House and picking new US Supreme Court justices.
It was not immediately clear exactly what Trump meant by his remarks, but they were quickly highlighted by US media and social media users who expressed concern that Trump was advocating, in jest or not, that Clinton or the judges could be shot.
“Hillary wants to essentially abolish the second Amendment,” Trump told a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, referring to the US Constitution’s clause that enshrines the rights of Americans to bear arms.
“If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks,” Trump said. “Although the Second Amendment people — maybe there is, I don’t know.”
“In this clip, Trump’s either calling for an armed revolt or the assassination of his opponent. Despicable,” House Democrat David Cicilline posted on Twitter along with footage of Trump’s remarks.
Trump has repeatedly bashed his opponent for seeking to abolish gun rights, while Clinton has said she favors tougher gun controls.
The Trump campaign swiftly issued its own statement to clarify the brash billionaire’s remarks, branding the media as “dishonest” and saying he meant that gun rights advocates were a powerful voting force.
“It’s called the power of unification — 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power,” senior Trump communications advisor Jason Miller said.
“And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won’t be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump.”
But Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook blasted Trump for using “dangerous” language.
“A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way,” Mook said.
The Republican nominee has repeatedly bashed his Democratic opponent for seeking to abolish gun rights.
Clinton has stressed she wants to impose stricter limits on gun sales so that weapons do not fall into the hands of people who should not have them, like criminals, the mentally unstable, or those on government terror watch lists.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the state where 20 schoolchildren and six adult staff were shot dead by a deranged gunman at an elementary school in 2012, issued a stern rebuke of Trump for his comments.
“Was @realDonaldTrump suggesting his supporters shoot Hillary? Shoot her nominee? Who knows. It’s all so disgusting and embarrassing and sad,” Murphy tweeted.
“This isn’t play. Unstable people with powerful guns and an unhinged hatred for Hillary are listening to you, @realDonaldTrump,” Murphy tweeted.
The National Rifle Association, the powerful pro-gun lobby that has endorsed Trump, posted a pair of tweets in support of the Republican nominee.
One read: “@RealDonaldTrump is right. If @HillaryClinton gets to pick her anti-#2A #SCOTUS judges, there’s nothing we can do. #NeverHillary.”
The second read: “But there IS something we will do on #ElectionDay: Show up and vote for the #2A! #DefendtheSecond #NeverHillary.”
But even some Trump supporters appeared taken aback by the nominee’s comments. A video of the rally shows a man seated behind Trump open his mouth in disbelief and turn to his companion with a puzzled look on his face after Trump made the remark.
Trump’s comments came a few weeks after one of his campaign advisers said “Hillary Clinton should be put in the firing line and shot for treason.”
The Secret Service is investigating those remarks, made last month by Al Baldasaro, a New Hampshire state lawmaker and an adviser to Trump on veterans’ issues. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said then that neither Trump nor his campaign agree with Baldasaro’s comments.
Trump’s comments Tuesday were reminiscent of the “Second Amendment remedies” floated in 2010 by Sharron Angle, a Nevada Senate candidate who was criticized for seeming to allude to a call for violence.
As reported by The Times of Israel