Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), whose famous “You Lie” words were engraved on a gun part being sold by a South Carolina armory, is glad to hear the company has suspended the product.
In a letter to Palmetto State Armory President Jamin McCallum, Wilson wrote, “I thank you for quickly suspending sales of the product that uses my words.”
The debate over the use of violent political rhetoric has heated up in the wake of the mass shooting in Arizona that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) plans to announce legislation to ban the high-capacity gun clip that was allegedly used in the shooting.
The words “You Lie” — a reference to Wilson’s outburst during President Barack Obama’s health care speech to Congress in 2009 — appeared on the lower receiver component of the AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.
Palmetto State Armory originally had a message on its website (which has now been removed) that said the gun part was meant to “honor our esteemed congressman Joe Wilson. Only 999 of these will be produced, get yours before they are gone!”
The lower receiver is technically the “firearm” component of the gun, and it’s needed to make the gun operate.
h/t CNN
David Taintor
David Taintor is TPM’s News Editor. He contributes to TPM’s Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
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