Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger condemned on Tuesday Republicans for “flaunting” their support of the Second Amendment, suggesting such people suffer from a “gun fetish.”
In a great turn of irony, Kinzinger was later forced to explain why he is guilty of exactly what he criticized.
What did Kinzinger say?
Last month, two Republican lawmakers — Reps. Ana Paulina Luna (Fla.) and George Santos (N.Y.) were spotted wearing AR-15 lapel pins. The pins were distributed by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), who owns a gun store in Georgia.
Seizing on a photo of Luna and Santos, Kinzinger wrote, “You can oppose a ban, fine. But the flaunting of guns and the gun fetish really bothers me.”
What happened next?
Less than 20 minutes after Kinzinger’s attack, YouTuber David Freiheit, known under his online pseudonym “Viva Frei,” reposted a picture of Kinzinger and his brother from 2014.
In that picture, Kinzinger is flaunting his pride for firearms, holding an AR-style rifle while wearing a handgun strapped to his leg.
“Is this you?” Freiheit asked. “I’m actually not being sarcastic… Is this your tweet, and is this you?”
There was zero doubt, of course, that the photo was of Kinzinger because it originated from the same account that accused some Republicans of having a “gun fetish.”
The former Illinois congressman responded to Freiheit by confirming the authenticity of the photo and attacking Freiheit.
“Yes that is me. That also was many years ago and I have since moderated somewhat on this issue, as have millions of Americans. BUT if you don’t want to leave room for people to evolve on this issue, then you only have yourself to blame. I also am a military member,” Kinzinger responded. “Clown.”
“This is the exact reason many in congress are unwilling to have this discussion, because idiots like this never allow for it,” he added.
Freiheit responded by highlighting what he believes is a double standard.
“No longer being in favour of rights that you benefitted from is not evolution. It’s hypocrisy,” he told Kinzinger.
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