Yes, Trent Franks actually joked about Arizona gun violence

by David Safier

During a Judiciary hearing in the House, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), while discussing a gun bill up for consideration, said, half joking, "I know in Arizona you have to have a gun."

Instead of offering a clarification of our gun laws ("No, Representative Cohen, you do not have to own a gun in Arizona"), our own Trent Franks decided to do Cohen one better:

 "In Arizona sometimes to gain office you have to have shot someone."

Franks followed immediately with, "I'm joking, of course."

Rep. Franks, political shootings are never funny, and in Arizona, as of January 8, they have left the realm of hypothetical humor and are pretty damned horrifying. It would be insensitive for you to make a comment like that in private, among friends. To say it for the record while fulfilling your duties as an Arizona State Representative is unforgivable.

(The video below begins with about 10 seconds of silence, then the sound kicks in.)

NOTE ON THE LEGISLATION: The bill being discussed is the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act. Basically it says, your gun carry rights follow you when you're in another state. That means, for instance, people who are allowed to carry a concealed weapon into a bar in their home state can do the same thing when they travel to other states. The bill is being pushed hard by the NRA and states-rights conservatives, though a federal law telling states who can carry guns hardly sounds like something a states-rights fanatic should be pushing.