Sen. Mark Kelly warned against rhetoric used by his Republican competitor Kari lake after she told voters to ‘strap on a Glock’ to prepare for the 2024 election.
The Arizona Democrat called his competitor’s rhetoric ‘dangerous’ and said Lake’s words ‘could result in people getting hurt or killed.’
Kelly is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt at a campaign event in 2011 but was shot in the head and has been left with life-long injuries.
He told NBC News Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in a Sunday morning interview that words can ‘absolutely’ translate to violence.
‘Kari Lake’s never been elected to anything,’ Kelly said. ‘I don’t expect her ever to be elected to anything but when you’re a candidate for the United States Senate you need to be careful with your words.’
Lake, who is running for Arizona Senate for outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat, told a crowd to ‘strap on a Glock’ while speaking last month at a Republican dinner in Mohave County with law enforcement and veterans.
She told the audience it is going to be a ‘crazy run’ the next six months up to the November elections.
‘They’re going to come after us with everything. That’s why the next six months is going to be intense,’ Lake said.
She added: ‘What do we want to strap on? We’re going to strap on our seatbelt. We’re going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We’re going to put on the armor of God.’
‘Then maybe strap on a Glock on the side just in case. You can put one here and one in the back or one in the front, whatever you guys decide,’ she said, gesturing to her hip.
Lake’s remarks come as there has been a heightened tensions as the 2024 election season heats up and growing concerns over political rhetoric leading to violence.
‘We’re not going to be the victims of crime . We’re not going to have our second amendment taken away. We’re certainly not going to have our first amendment taken away by these tyrants,’ she added.
Kelly’s future colleague representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate is likely to either be Lake or Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
Arizona is one of the biggest battleground states in 2024 for both the presidential election and Senate race.
President Biden beat Trump in Arizona by just over 10,000 votes in 2020. But Trump won the swing state in 2016.
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