Senator Mark Kelly issued a warning to voters about the language used by his Republican opponent, Kari Lake. In a statement, Lake told voters to be armed as they prepare for the 2024 election.
Speaking last month at a Republican dinner in Mohave County with law enforcement and veterans. Lake, an Arizona Senate candidate replacing retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, told the crowd to “strap on a Glock.”
The Arizona lawmaker called the words used by his rival as inciteful, claiming it could result in injury or death of several people. Kelly is married to Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, sustaining a permanent head injury.
Lake, a Trump supporter, rose in right-wing circles after promoting the 2020 election conspiracy theories during her 2022 gubernatorial campaign. However, she has since rebranded her public persona, repairing relationship with a number of the republicans she fell out with during gubernatorial bid.
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Arizona emerged as the main focus of Trump’s plan to reverse the 2020 election results, which has gotten his allies in legal problems. Late last month, a grand jury in Arizona charged eighteen of Trump’s associates for their alleged electoral fraud.
This associate includes attorneys Boris Epshteyn and Rudy Giuliani and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. Kelly, in an outrage, said that Lake has never held an elected position and believes she never will.
However, as a person contesting for the role of a senator, she has to be more careful about her speech and word usage. Speaking about his personal experience with political violence, the senator considered the 2011 shooting in which his wife, Gabby Giffords.
On January 8, 2011, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords invited members of her constituents to meet with her at a Safeway supermarket. It was planned to be an informal rally. Where you meet your representative, exchange remarks, ask questions, and shake hands. It was open to all.
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However, things took a dark turn when a gunman wanting to kill Giffords, opened fire at the crowd minutes into the event. This action resulted in 13 people being injured, including Giffords, who was shot in the head, and the deaths of six others.
After the initial act, the gunman, Jared Loughner, was disarmed and arrested, but the deeds were done. He pleaded guilty to the attack and took a plea deal that saw him get a life sentence in November 2012. Following the shooting, the community faced an international spotlight, a sorrowful presidential visit, and funerals.
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In November, Lake is expected to challenge Democratic Rep. Gallego for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Sinema, who will be retiring in November.
This statement comes at a time when emotions are rising and worries about the election are turning violent. As we worry about the political unrest, we should be careful over the course of the next six months.
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