A few years ago, Republican Senate hopeful Sharron Angle raised more than a few eyebrows when she suggested Americans would pursue "Second Amendment remedies" if policymakers pursued an agenda the far-right disapproved of. Angle eventually lost, of course, and such talk receded to the fringe.
But it didn't completely go away. We talked last week about state policymaker in Arkansas, who agreed to expand Medicaid enrollment under a partial-privatization agreement reached with the Obama administration. A Democratic source flagged this newsletter published soon after by the Arkansas Republican Party of Benton County.
"We need to let those who will come in the future to represent us [know] that we are serious. The 2nd amendment means nothing unless those in power believe you would have no problem simply walking up and shooting them if they got too far out of line and stopped responding as representatives. It seems that we are unable to muster that belief in any of our representatives on a state or federal level, but we have to have something, something costly, something that they will fear that we will use if they step out of line."
The newsletter went on to say that Republican activists must make clear to state lawmakers that they're prepared to "take immediate action against them politically, socially, and civically." The statement added, "Personally, I think a gun is quicker and more merciful, but hey, we can't."
Try not to sound disappointed, Benton County GOP.