U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman pulls out loaded gun in constituent meeting to make point about safety

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: Post and Courier

A South Carolina Republican congressman is not backing down from critics after he pulled out his own personal — and loaded — .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun during a meeting with constituents Friday.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, told The Post and Courier he pulled out the weapon and placed it on a table for several minutes in attempt to make a point that guns are only dangerous in the hands of criminals. He was speaking to constituents about gun violence during a public meeting at a diner in Rock Hill.

"I'm not going to be a Gabby Giffords," Norman said afterward, referring to a former Arizona congresswoman who was shot outside a Tucson-area grocery store in 2011. "I don't mind dying, but whoever shoots me better shoot well or I'm shooting back."

Lori Freemon, a volunteer with the South Carolina chapter of a gun control group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, argued Norman's actions were "a far cry from what responsible gun ownership looks like."

Read more: https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/u-s-rep-ralph-norman-pulls-out-loaded-gun-in/article_ea97bda0-39d3-11e8-b120-3b253f2be91e.html

[old guy]

1. Brandishing a weapon?

[sarisataka]

2. I don't know if

His actions qualify under SC law as brandishing but if I was at the table I would have been sorely tempted to pocket a pistol

[quartz007]

6. You and I think alike lol

[George II]

3. He had to slip in an insult to Gabby Giffords?

[erronis]

29. Typical - they know no decency, respect no ethics. That's why they are "R"! [nt]

[truthisfreedom]

4. Vote him out!

Gundamentalism is a disease.

[bermudat]

8. Gundamentalism?!? Excellent term, I think I'll use it

[Renew Deal]

5. Did anyone call the police?

They should have

[quartz007]

9. Most likely, in SC guns can be carried openly

without breaking state law. IDK for sure, but that is my guess.

[TheDebbieDee]

7. I hope his constituents VOTE HIS ASS OUT!

[Kittycow]

10. I'd like to see his quick draw after a bullet to the head

like Gabby suffered.

Then we have all the times safety officers negligently fired off a round in various classrooms while demonstrating proper use of a firearm.

In fact, my dumbass husband has TWICE fired the phantom bullet in our own home.

Needless to say, he shut up about my "nagging" about the phantom bullet after that. He always thought of himself as a responsible gun owner but he got complacent. Just like the classroom demonstrators I mentioned above.

Just like Congressman Norman could likely do as well!

[beachbum bob]

11. does SC have stand your ground law? what if they did and a consituent would have off'd his ass?

that would be protected under stand your ground and fearing for your life

[tanyev]

12. Well that would be my cue to leave.

[Delphinus]

13. Mine too.

Sorry, I don't do well when weapons are brandished about like that.

[Clarity2]

28. Same here

I have never even seen a handgun. Some of those attending may never have. It would surely have been traumatic to me, especially knowing how unhinged some of these republican politicians are.

[Leghorn21]

14. A tweeter pointed out, hey, remember the last gop politician who did this?

I am so sorry, Rep. Giffords. J. F. C.

Go ahead and secede, SC. Fuck it.

[bronxiteforever]

15. What a typical rethug pos. Everyday they take the country lower.

I am so pissed off about this aberrant behavior masquerading as normal human conduct. He had to insult a woman shot in the head.

[Zambero]

16. That prop worked so well for Roy Moore

Was Norman wearing a kid's sheriff's vest & cowboy hat as well?

[Maxheader]

17. Purely for show...

guns are only dangerous in the hands of criminals.

or a loony like you...hillbilly neanderthal.

[pecosbob]

18. These stories usually end with a gun fail

Being armed simply means a greater likelihood you'll shoot yourself in the ass. Now that would be a nice ending to the story, but more likely he'd shoot some innocent bystander.

[Still In Wisconsin]

19. There's ONE kind of concealed carry proponent who actually pulls his weapon to show people...

he seems to be that kind.

I can about guarantee you that if real bullets started flying this guy would shit himself, then very likely shoot a wall, or the floor or ceiling, or an innocent bystander. People who actually know how to handle a firearm don't pull it out and set it on a table in a public space. Ever.

[erronis]

30. Bingo. It's sort of like saying "I'm the smartest". Only to prove you're the dumbest - Dumpster.

And believe you me, if Dumpster were to have to deal with school shooting, it would run in there pulling at its suspenders and complaining about spurs. Now, where is that weapon??

[Paladin]

20. Why didn't he pull his dick out, to prove he wasn't a rapist?

Same difference.

And fuck you, Rep. Norman, for the shitty reference to Gabby Giffords. She's way the hell out of your league, and she always will be.

[Stuart G]

21. I guess "real stupid" comes in different sizes and shapes.

This is a South Carolina version. It really stinks...

[csziggy]

22. Hey, asshole - Gabby Giffords was shot in the back of the head with no warning

Even if she had a weapon on her, she had no chance to defend herself. But gun toting cowards like U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill (asshole) don't care about facts like that.

Rep. Norman, how about your fellow congressman Steve Scalise who was shot in the hip while on the baseball field? How would carrying a gun around have stopped that shooting? OK, maybe the bullet that hit his hip would have ricocheted off a gun on his hip? Yeah, right.

[oberliner]

23. This is insane

I cannot understand that there are parts of the country where this is considered normal.

[kchamberlin25]

24. I live in Rock Hill

Guy's not exactly the exception around here.

[weissmam]

26. these are guys that need guns to make up for other areas

they significantly lack

[weissmam]

25. well that an add for responsible gun ownership

NOT

[Skittles]

27. gun humping COWARD

[Girard442]

31. So, what if someone had rushed him, thinking a shooting was going down?

Or, what if diner staff had called 911 and reported an active shooter and the SWAT team responded? Or, what if someone had pulled their own weapon? Or, what if Norman had accidentally fired his weapon?

You know what, Norman? Just go to an empty field somewhere and play Russian Roulette and leave the rest of us out of it.

[Ferrets are Cool]

32. FUCK YOU and your fucking fake bravado.

If you were being shot at, you would cower just like every other person there. You have watched too many low budget cowboy movies pal.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Time to join the rest of the lunkheads

and secede - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142031673

[Ligyron]

34. Pffffft, .38

Real Men have .45's.

[Beartracks]

35. Someone shoulda grabbed his gun "to make point about safety."

Lesson: Don't leave your "safe" gun lying around. If you're not in control of your weapon, someone else could be.

=============

[iluvtennis]

36. What a moronic idiot. Vote. Him. Out.

[Exotica]

37. fuck you Ralph!

[Cold War Spook]

38. Only an idiot pulls out a gun without warning.

Where I live in rural North Carolina, he would have been dead before the pistol hit the table. The people here are always looking for a little target practice, especially my neighbor, the nut-job.

[JI7]

39. did it make him feel manly ?