(Via press release from the Kenton County Democrats)
On Saturday, December 4, Congressman Thomas Massie posted on Twitter a photo of his family holding assault-style weapons wishing followers a “Merry Christmas” and for Santa to “please bring more ammo.” The post came shortly after the parents of a 15-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting four students at a high school in Michigan had been arrested for manslaughter.
The Michigan tragedy hits close to home. Kentucky has experienced some of the most notorious school shootings in history; And, just yesterday in Congressman Massie’s home district, the Boone County Sheriff’s office reported an incident of terroristic threats made by a middle school student.
Congressman Massie’s voting record on gun safety is even more tasteless than the photo tweeted earlier today. In 2018, he voted “no” on the Stop School Violence Act, a bill that reauthorizes a grant program for school security and would have provided funding for training law enforcement, school personnel, and students; developing and operating anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including hotlines, websites, and mobile apps; security assessments and coordination with local law enforcement; and installing and using deterrent measures like metal detectors and locks.
The Republican Congressman has also repeatedly voted “no” to enhance background checks.
Statement by Tom Elfers, chair of the Kenton County Democrats:
“Congressman Thomas Massie’s photo is morally reprehensible and makes a mockery of victims of gun violence across this country and here in the commonwealth. The fact that a sitting U.S. Congressman would post something so insensitive when the families of four teenagers are currently grieving the loss of their loved ones, only days after being gunned down in a public school in Michigan, is in poor taste and absolutely shameful.
“The Republican Congressman should take down the photo immediately and issue an apology to each of the families of the four students killed at Oxford High School.
“We have already witnessed too much loss due to irresponsible behavior and posting a picture celebrating assault weapons is more of the same. The people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District deserve better.”
Congressman Massie made the post at 1:22 p.m. ET, by 8:00 p.m. the Republican Party of Kentucky had yet to comment or publicly ask for the post to be removed.
