Thursday, September 12, 2019 – Republican Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain posted a thinly-veiled threat to Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke via Twitter on Thursday.
The threat came after O’Rourke’s social media team posted, “Hell yes, we’re gonna take your AR-15,” to his official Twitter account, just after the candidate uttered the phrase during the Democratic presidential debate.
Hell yes, we're gonna take your AR-15.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 13, 2019
O’Rourke was arguing in favor of a mandatory buyback of assault weapons. The line drew loud applause from the audience for the line. “We’re not going to allow them to be used against our fellow Americans anymore,” the candidate continued.
About an hour later, in response to the tweet, Republican Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain posted, “My AR is ready for you Robert Francis,” a tweet that several Twitter users immediately jumped on as a threat to the candidate’s life.
“Did you, uh, just threaten to shoot a former member of Congress and current candidate for president?” one user asked.
https://twitter.com/texasquire/status/1172342276611174401
Another pointed out that, “Threatening to murder someone with your gun is not a great argument against having that gun taken away.”
And, yes, this is a violent threat entailing murder. What else is the AR-15 gonna do? Lick him?
— Magdi Jacobs (@magi_jay) September 13, 2019
O’Rourke responded himself later saying, “This is a death threat, Representative. Clearly, you shouldn’t own an AR-15 – and neither should anyone else.
This is a death threat, Representative. Clearly, you shouldn't own an AR-15—and neither should anyone else. pic.twitter.com/jsiZmwjMDs
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 13, 2019
Cain was elected to represent Texas House District 128 in 2016. As a conservative Republican, Cain states that he supports “limited government, less regulation, increased transparency, the value of life, and traditional family values.” He is a member of the Texas Freedom Caucus, a group of Texas House Representatives who claim to want “bold action to protect life, strengthen families, defend the U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights, restrain government, and revitalize personal and economic freedoms in the United States.
O’Rourke later told the media he felt that Cain’s tweet was “irresponsible.” “We are a nation of laws and if [mantadory buybacks] become law, we expect people to comply with it.”
Responding to Texas State Rep. Briscoe Cain saying "My AR is ready for you" @BetoORourke says "I think it;s a really irresponsible thing for him to do… we are a nation of laws and if that (mandatory buyback) ends up becoming the law.. we expect people to comply w/ it" pic.twitter.com/Z5eUTMYTK2
— Tim Perry (@tperry518) September 13, 2019
Jenn Bentley is a freelance journalist and editor currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of Big Easy Magazine. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Wander N.O. More, The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, Examiner.com, and others. Follow her on Twitter: @JennBentley_
