Seven people were shot dead on Saturday and another 22 were injured when a gunman opened fire on random people across Odessa and Midland, Texas, after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop. Instead of offering some encouraging words or kindness after the tragic loss of life, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) thought it’d be best to go the sarcastic route, taking a jab at all those gun owners who’ve used their firearm for good.
The comment came after Swalwell retweeted a message from Beto O’Rourke that said “Buy them all back.”
“Beto is spot on,” the California Democrat said. “If you believe assault weapons are dangerous, it’s irresponsible to support a ban on future sales but grandfather in possession of the 15 million already in our communities. Either they’re dangerous & should be taken off the streets or don’t ban them at all.”
Beto is spot on. If you believe assault weapons are dangerous, it’s irresponsible to support a ban on future sales but grandfather in possession of the 15 million already in our communities. Either they’re dangerous & should be taken off the streets or don’t ban them at all. https://t.co/2Iv686AIMT
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) September 1, 2019
One Twitter user replied that open carry should be supported instead as a way to help “stop all these mass shootings.”
That’s when Swalwell dropped his snide dig at “good guys with guns.”
“Big shout out to all the civilian “good guys with guns” who saved lives in Odessa. You know who you are. Thanks a million,” he wrote, adding, “*btw, Texas IS an open carry state.”
Big shout out to all the civilian “good guys with guns” who saved lives in Odessa. You know who you are. Thanks a million.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) September 1, 2019
*btw, Texas IS an open carry state. https://t.co/cWTeyEkBrC
Contrary to whatever world Swalwell lives in, "good guys with guns" are real and there are countless stories about guns saving lives every day that rarely get the attention they deserve. One that recently did, however, took place in Springfield, Missouri, where an off-duty fireman likely prevented a mass shooting at a Walmart--just days after the shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where 22 people were killed.