Congresswoman Debbie Lesko says she would shoot her grandchildren in opposition of gun safety bill

Rep. Debbie Lesko is under scrutiny for a statement made on the house floor opposing advancements in gun safety

By Kelly McClure

Nights & Weekends Editor

Published July 6, 2022 8:39PM (EDT)

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., leaves the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., leaves the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko is under scrutiny for a statement made to the House in which she said she would rather shoot her five grandchildren than have a gun safety bill advance. 

"I rise in opposition to H.R.2377," Lesko said on Tuesday. "I have five grandchildren. I would do anything, anything, to protect my five grandchildren. Including, as a last resort, shooting them if I had to, to protect the lives of my grandchildren. Democrat bills that we've heard this week wanna take away my right, my right, to protect my grandchildren. They wanna take away the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect their own children, and grandchildren, and wives, and brothers, and sisters. This bill takes away due process from law-abiding citizens."

After the public caught wind of Lesko's statement she made an attempt to back it up, taking to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon to say "It never ceases to amaze me the lengths gun control zealots will go! They turned my speech about protecting Second Amendment rights and my right to protect my grandchildren from violent criminals into a claim I would harm my own grandchildren. Absolutely ridiculous!"


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Earlier this year, Lesko made headlines for receiving Trump's endorsement for her run for a second term in Arizona and Trump called her a "Conservative Warrior," according to AZ Central

"Congresswoman Debbie Lesko is a Conservative Warrior for the people of Arizona," Trump said in a written statement. "A strong supporter of our MAGA Agenda, Debbie is working tirelessly to secure our border, uphold the rule of law, defend our second amendment, support our military and vets, and hold the Biden Administration accountable for their absolute incompetence. Debbie Lesko has my complete and total endorsement!"

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By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Nights and Weekends Editor covering daily news, politics and culture. Her work has been featured in Vulture, The A.V. Club, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, Vice, and elsewhere.

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