Rep. Thomas Massie scolded a witness who alleged that “nobody” has died because of lack of access to a gun during a hearing on voter identification laws.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican, questioned three witnesses on Wednesday about their opposition to voter identification laws. The witnesses presented evidence that showed local laws requiring a state-issued photo identification card to vote disproportionately affected minorities.
During his questioning, Massie asked each of the witnesses if they agreed that identification requirements for purchasing a firearm infringe on the rights of minorities in the same way that requiring an identification to vote disenfranchises voters.
Two of the witnesses dodged the question, but one witness, Teaching for Change board member Timothy Jenkins, condemned Massie for trying to change the subject of the hearing to the Second Amendment.
“Let the record show that nobody has died because of their being deprived of their guns,” Jenkins said.
Massie interjected, “Mr. Jenkins, that’s absolutely false. I can give you multiple examples. I had a staffer who worked for me whose husband was shot in front of her.”
The congressman was cut off as Jenkins said, “That’s not true.” Massie negotiated for more time and continued, “What you’re saying, Mr. Jenkins, is absolutely incorrect.”
“I had a staffer, Nikki Goeser, who worked for me. She watched her husband be gunned down in front of her in a gun-free zone because her firearm — she followed the law and left her firearm in the vehicle. So, do not tell me and do not tell her that nobody has ever died because they were deprived of their right to keep and bear arms.”
Jenkins maintained that Massie should not have brought up gun laws while discussing voter identification policies. He added, “The whole business of being able to vote is not intermeshed with the business of bearing arms. You’re taking the time that we’re trying to deal with a constitutional right to be a citizen and turning it into something else. Use another forum.”
Jenkins accused Massie of leading the committee down a “rabbit trail” on the Second Amendment. Massie responded, “The Constitution is not a rabbit trail, and you look somewhat disingenuous when you’re now trying to pick and choose which constitutional rights that somebody should have.”
