Florida GOP candidate to give away semi-automatic rifle

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Republican candidate for Congress in Florida has launched a contest on his Facebook campaign page to give away a semi-automatic rifle on Independence Day.

Greg Evers announced the giveaway barely a week after a shooting at a gay nightclub killed 49 people in Orlando, which is about five hours drive from the Florida Panhandle congressional district Evers seeks to represent.

“With terrorism incidents on the rise, both at home and abroad, protecting our constitutional rights has never been more important,” Evers said. “With all that’s happening in the world today, I’ve never felt stronger about the importance of the second amendment in protecting our homeland than I do now.”

Evers has served in the Florida Legislature since 2001, including the Senate the past six years. The National Rifle Association has given him an A-plus grade for the past 15 years.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/florida-gop-candidate-to-give-away-semi-automatic-rifle/2016/06/20/4f163f02-3762-11e6-af02-1df55f0c77ff_story.html

[greymattermom]

1. What happens if this weapon is used in a crime?

What if the recipient is on a terror watch list? Will the recipient have to pass background tests, or is this more like a gun show?

[NashuaDW]

4. The winner WILL have to go through the standard background check

I've been to many of these events (never won anything) but the winner WILL NOT walk away with the rifle.

They hand out a coupon that can be redeemed (up to a certain dollar value) at the sponsoring gun store.

If the gun is used in a crime - it's on the person committing the crime. Not the politician, not the gun shop, not the ammo manufacturer, not the rifle manufacturer.

[JudyM]

2. The irony is that he couldn't better symbolize the horrible extent of the problem.

And what a disgusting insult to the families of the Pulse victims.

[SpankMe]

3. Tone-deaf asshats. n/t

[RAFisher]

5. It's Scarborough's old district up in the Panhandle

It's so conservative this sort of nonsense doesn't surprise me