The show, and the shooting, went on Monday at Rep. Steve Holt’s (R-Denison) 7th Annual Freedom Celebration and fundraiser.
Holt’s event featured a “try on & fire gun shoot” presented by Foxhole Armament of Harlan. Weapons were on display and for $25 two weapons could be tried on and fired at the range.
Senator Chuck Grassley was the headliner for the event.
After the tragic shootings that happened over the weekend, Jane Robinette commented on Holt’s Facebook page that he might consider cancelling his event.
“It’s my understanding the police took the El Paso shooter into custody without a shot,” Robinette wrote. “It took many hours to get the correct facts out about that shooting because law enforcement had to spend time clearing all of the other people who were carrying firearms in the store at the time. Thoughts and prayers don’t go very far.”
Robinette, who is a frequent “citizen lobbyist” at the Capitol, has spoke out against gun rights and efforts to protect the unborn many times. When pressed, Robinette continued.
“Our founders did not fight for the ‘freedom’ to carry weapons of war in civilian society,” she wrote. “Neither history, nor the constitution, supports the unlimited, unquestioned right to any and all weapons.”
Holt issued a brief response to Robinette.
“I could not disagree with you more,” he said. “It is the loss of our value system brought about in part by idiotic far-left ideology that forced Biblical values from our schools, the media and the public square that brought our nation to this point. It is not about the gun. It is about the character of the person holding it. My event will go on as scheduled.”
Progress Iowa, a liberal group, also chimed in.
“It is unconscionable for Holt and Grassley to participate in an event like this in the wake of this weekend’s horrific tragedies,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “(Monday) night’s event should be canceled, and both of these elected officials should take immediate action to prevent an attack like this from happening in Iowa by passing comprehensive gun reform laws.”
Holt posted late Monday night that he rejects any attempts to link law-abiding citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights with mentally ill, sick individuals who kill innocent people. He quoted John Adams:
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
OUR TAKE:
It is interesting that when other attacks happen, many say Americans should not change the way they live or operate in fear — thus allowing the attackers to win.
Our question for Progress Iowa and far-left liberal activist Jane Robinette — what would cancelling Holt’s event have accomplished?
