When candidates run for office in rural districts, they naturally want to prove they’re just like the voters they seek to represent. But things often don’t go as planned when they’re just posing as everyday gun owners.
Such was the case in Missouri recently when Democrat Lucas Kunce, a candidate for U.S. Senate, and former congressmen turned CNN commentator Adam Kinzinger held a media event at a private range near Holt, Missouri. With media in tow, Kunce, who is trying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, set out to prove his marksmanship skills—a sure way, it seems, for Democrats to prove they are not anti-Second Amendment advocates.
As both Kunce and Kinzinger are military veterans, one would think they could have avoided the inevitable problem that soon occurred. Who they meant to impress by shooting AR-15s at targets only 10 to 12 yards downrange is anyone’s guess. But almost anyone who has ever shot an AR—or any other rifle—knows you shouldn’t shoot steel targets at such a short distance.
Alas, that’s what the duo did. And, given the propensity of bullets to ricochet off hard surfaces, a fragment from one of Kunce’s bullets bounced off a target and hit Ryan Gamboa, a Kansas City television reporter, in the arm. Kunce and Kinzinger managed to patch up Gamboa’s wound, and the range session continued.
Of course, it could have been worse. Any bystanders could have been hit somewhere more serious than the arm with a ricochet when shooting steel at that distance. In fact, one photo from the media op shows Kinzinger sending rounds downrange with his safety glasses on top of his head! He could easily have lost an eye or even had his brain penetrated by a ricocheted bullet fragment.
Alas, candidate Kunce was able to brush the bullet wound aside and declare victory following the episode.
“Great day at the range today with my friend @AdamKinzinger,” he posted on X. “We got to hang out with some union workers while exercising our freedom.”
Then, rather than apologizing to the photographer for putting him in harm’s way, Kunce bragged about his own preparedness.
“Always have your first aid kit handy,” he posted. “Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today, and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.”
Gamboa did reportedly go to a hospital after the event to get his arm checked and was afterwards released several news outlets reported. The group had Tannerite on hand as well as evidenced in the photos. Tannerite is an explosive target that is fun to shoot, but definitely shouldn’t be shot at at such close range as the photos indicate.
Regarding media opportunities gone wrong involving Democrat candidates this election season, this one might have topped the recent escapade by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, when he invited television reporters along on a pheasant hunt. Walz blew the video op by bumbling and fumbling while trying to load his Berretta semi-auto shotgun. The bungled loading video had some on social media questioning whether he’d ever been pheasant hunting.
True to form, Walz didn’t take the criticism well. When asked about it later in an appearance on “The View,” Walz lashed out, claiming he has superior marksmanship skills compared to his “right-winger” critics.
“Well, I can shoot better than all of them,” he said. “I’ve got the trophies to prove it.”
Perhaps, when both Kunce and Walz lose on election day, they can spend some quality time together in the field or on the range!
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