‘People could be killed!’ Arizona Senator Mark Kelly tears into Kari Lake for telling supporters to ‘strap on a Glock’ ahead of the election
Sen. Mark Kelly warned about his Republican competitor Kari Lake’s rhetoric after she told voters to “strap on a Glock” in preparation for the 2024 election.
The Arizona Democrat called his rival’s rhetoric “dangerous” and said Lake’s words “could lead to people getting hurt or killed.”
Kelly is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt at a 2011 campaign event but was shot in the head and suffered lifelong injuries.
He told NBC News Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in an interview Sunday morning that words can “absolutely” translate into violence.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said Kari Lake’s rhetoric is “dangerous” and “could get people hurt or killed.”
Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake told a crowd at an April campaign event to “strap on a Glock” as the 2024 election season intensifies
“Kari Lake was never chosen for anything,” Kelly said. “I don’t expect her to ever be elected to anything, but if you’re running for the United States Senate, you have to be careful with your words.”
Lake, who is running for the Arizona Senate to fill the seat held by retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, told a crowd to “strap on a Glock” while speaking to law enforcement officers and veterans at a Republican dinner in Mohave County last month.
She told the crowd that it’s going to be a “crazy run” over the next six months until the November election.
‘They’re coming after us with everything. That’s why the next six months are going to be intense,” Lake said.
She added, “What do we want to tie up? We’re going to fasten our seat belts. We’re going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We are going to put on the armor of God.”
“Then maybe you could strap a Glock to the side just to be safe. You can put one here and one in the back or one in the front, whatever you decide,” she said, gesturing to her hip.
Senator Kelly’s wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head during a 2011 campaign event. Giffords (pictured) survived the assassination attempt, but suffered lifelong injuries from the shooting
Lake’s comments come as tensions rise as the 2024 election season heats up and concerns grow about political rhetoric leading to violence.
‘We are not going to become victims of a crime. We will not let our Second Amendment be taken away. Our First Amendment will certainly not be taken away by these tyrants,” she added.
Kelly’s future colleague representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate will likely be Lake or Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
Arizona is one of the biggest battlegrounds in 2024 for both the presidential elections and the battle for the Senate.
President Biden defeated Trump in Arizona by just over 10,000 votes in 2020. But Trump won the swing state in 2016.