Tipsheet

Pearl Wearing Lawmakers Outrage Moms Demand Action. Now a New Movement Has Sparked.

Beth Baumann
Beth Baumann  |  March 06, 2019 5:25 PM

Republican members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives have sparked social media outrage after wearing pearls during a hearing on Extreme Risk Protection Orders, commonly referred to as "red flag laws." Many state legislatures are considering implementing these laws, which would make it easier for police to confiscate a person's guns if he or she is believed to be a threat to themselves or others. 

According to the Washington Post, the legislators' motives were easy to see. "The implication was clear, they said: These politicians thought gun-control activists were “clutching their pearls” in overwrought and self-righteous outrage — and, specifically, female outrage."

“It really is shameful to behave that way when your constituents are being brave enough to share their stories,” Watts told WaPo.  “They clearly did not come to this hearing with open minds or compassion for their constituents.”

Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts took to Twitter to spark the mob outrage:

She even wore pearls as a means of embracing the supposed mockery, which gained a bit of traction:

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She even attempted to start a movement of gun control advocates doing the same:

Except there's just one problem with Watts' assumption: the pearls had nothing to do with legislators mocking Moms Demand Action volunteers. They were given to legislators by the Women's Defense League. 

But of course Watts thinks everything is about her. 

In fact, these were past promotional images:

And to Watts, I say:

MOLON LABE.