In the wake of two mass shootings in the span of a week, President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for strengthening the nation’s gun laws, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and an expansion of background checks. Republicans, of course, have made it abundantly clear that so long as the NRA is funding them, they’ll never support any legislation that takes killing machines off the streets. Only one of them, though, seemed to suggest he was going to shoot the president and/or sic his dog on the guy.
In a deeply weird tweet that, at a best, was a terrible joke, South Dakota senator Mike Rounds wrote “Hey @JoeBiden – come and take it. Careful, she bites too.” The message accompanied a photo of a bronze statue of himself holding a rifle and the likeness of his dog, who is named “Baby,” and is probably embarrassed to be associated with the guy. (The biting line was seemingly a reference to the news that Biden’s dog Major reportedly had a “biting incident” at the White House earlier this month and had to undergo training in Delaware before making his return to Washington, though the president contends it never broke the skin.)
While Rounds presumably expected a bunch of virtual attaboys for his come-and-get-me schtick, Twitter users responded to the lawmaker with a collective what the fuck is wrong with you? “That is an unnecessary, weird, and completely weak flex. It was not even worth the effort,” one person wrote. “Since this tweet reflects conduct unbecoming a U.S. Senator—especially on the heels of two (TWO) fatal gun-related tragedies—I’ll suspend the courtesy I normally extend to elected officials and say this with great emphasis: This was a truly dick move. Disgraceful times 100,” said another. One woman suggested the Secret Service pay Rounds a visit, which seems appropriate!
On Tuesday, Biden said, “I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,” suggesting he may offer new legislation to complement gun control bills that have already passed the House. Given the GOP’s insistence on doing nothing to stop gun violence, the administration is also said to be working on a slate of executive actions on guns, with one under consideration being to classify “ghost guns,” which are kits that let buyers assemble a fully functioning handgun or long gun, as firearms, which would require them to be serialized and subject to background checks. The administration is also reportedly working on a $900 million investment to tackle community violence.
Anyway, presumably the Secret Service and/or the FBI have made their way to South Dakota by now for a little chat.
Area Republican is angry Biden came to his Thursday press conference prepared
The goddamn nerve!
Start the impeachment proceedings
Not tomorrow, today. NOW!
Cambridge’s best and brightest
Those pointing out the error will presumably be highlighted in a Hannity segment with the chyron “Coastal Elitists and Their Spelling Snobbery” soon.