Rep. Lauren Boebert of the Freedom Caucus warns that prohibiting assault rifles in the United States would result in Americans eating dogs, as in Venezuela, where ‘they eat the dogs because they don’t have guns.’
Boebert made the remarks while chatting with Newsmax’s Sebastian Gorka on Monday on the significance of firearms in America. Boebert informed Gorka that people in Venezuela were eating dogs because they lacked guns. She emphasized that removing civilians’ access to firearms would have the same effect in America.
Her remarks on the Newsmax program came after the House enacted a ban on assault rifles by a narrow 217-213 vote the week before. According to Lauren Boebert, outlawing assault weapons would result in people eating pups “Gourmet treats for puppies are available in the United States. We have these fantastic dog groomers. Venezuela is a country. They began eating the dogs since they don’t have weapons.” pic.twitter.com/SOFGujhhLf
August 1, 2022 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah)
The video of Boebert, a far-right Republican, has already received over a million views.
‘If the American people are unarmed, we are no longer citizens; we are subjects,’ Boebert remarked in the video.
‘You know, in America, we have gourmet treats for pups and these great dog groomers.
‘Well, in Venezuela, they eat dogs because they don’t have weapons.’
‘They have no method of protecting or defending themselves against a despotic government.’ Following the statements, Boebert got a barrage of criticism on social media.
Adam Frisch, the Democratic contender in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, tweeted: ‘The rationale here is obviously a stretch. I’ll ask Lauren Boebert to elaborate if she agrees to additional arguments with me.’
‘Lauren Boebert has perfected GOP talking: put together absolutely random things her fans will find disgusting, devouring dogs!’ writes Christopher Orr for the Atlantic. Gun control! Venezuela! and hope they don’t notice that even if those random things were true, there would be no remote connection between them.’
During her Newsmax interview on Monday, Boebert also discussed her confrontation with 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke in September of 2019, before she took office. O’Rourke had announced his proposed firearm confiscation plan about taking citizens’ AR-15s and Boebert had strong words for him.
Boebert, who was at the time the owner of a restaurant where the staff carries firearms, spoke from the crowd with handgun was holstered at her side.
‘I have four children, I am 5-foot-0, 100 pounds, cannot really defend myself with a fist.’
‘I want to know how you’re going to legislate that because a criminal by [definition] breaks the law, so all you’re going to do is restrict law-abiding citizens, like myself,’ she told O’Rourke.
Boebert, a first-term firebrand, saw her GOP-leaning 3rd Congressional District in western Colorado become even more Republican after redistricting.
She had little trouble with rancher and hemp farmer Don Coram, a moderate state representative who slammed Boebert’s extremism.
Boebert trumpeted her gun-toting Second Amendment credentials and opposition to COVID-19 restrictions that briefly shuttered her ‘Shooters’ restaurant.
Boebert opened Shooter’s Grill in 2013 on the premise that it was a place where patrons are not only welcome but actively encouraged to bring their guns.
That sentiment is reflected in the décor on every wall on which guns are mounted and pro-gun posters and messages plastered.
Meanwhile servers bring diners their burgers and fries with a side-order of conspicuously holstered firearms.
Boebert made headlines in May when she pushed back against calls for greater gun restrictions in the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which saw 19 children slaughtered along with two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School.
She took the view that the shooting was proof of a need to arm teachers in classrooms insisting there was ‘no need to take guns away from law abiding citizens.’
She reasoned: ‘When 911 happened we didn’t ban planes, we secured the cockpit.’
Uvalde gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, legally purchased two AR-style rifles just days before committing the atrocity and shortly after his 18th birthday.
Boebert has since doubled-down on her calls to arm teachers and turn schools into ‘impenetrable’ fortresses.
Days after voicing her views on that matter Boebert was on stage at a pre-primary rally in Casper, Wyoming, in which she lent her support to Harriet Hageman who is challenging Rep. Liz Cheney for the Republican nomination.