Ocasio-Cortez went after Crenshaw for a tweet about a Houston-area woman who used a handgun to defend herself when five men tried to rob her.
“Situations like this story are why we protect the 2nd Amendment,” Crenshaw tweeted.
He added a side note, tweeting that if universal background checks were to be introduced, he “wouldn’t be able to let my friends borrow my handgun when they travel alone like this,” arguing such checks would make it more difficult for people to defend themselves.
Situations like this story are why we protect the 2nd Amendment.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) September 4, 2019
Side note: With universal background checks, I wouldn’t be able to let my friends borrow my handgun when they travel alone like this. We would make felons out of people just for defending themselves. https://t.co/x60mdd1WW1
The sidenote provoked Ocasio-Cortez’ reply, asking why he is “lending” people his guns and accusing the Texas lawmaker of giving firearms to people who have “likely abused their spouse or have a violent criminal record,” without detailing why she made such assumptions.
You are a member of Congress. Why are you “lending” guns to people unsupervised who can’t pass a basic background check?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 4, 2019
The people you’re giving a gun to have likely abused their spouse or have a violent criminal record, & you may not know it.
Why on earth would you do that? https://t.co/TQFjcLQebO
Crenshaw responded by questioning why she thinks his friends are domestic abusers and criminals, and saying that people lend one another guns for self-defense and hunting, noting that “this is America outside NYC.”
Just so I’m clear: you think my friends are domestic abusers/criminals? Seriously that’s your argument? That they can’t pass a background check?
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) September 4, 2019
Wrong. People lend guns to friends, esp if they don’t own a gun, for self-defense and hunting purposes.
This is America outside NYC. https://t.co/wkWPhfi0JB
Ocasio-Cortez didn’t back down, saying that many abusers “often present as ‘upstanding’” and that “domestic abuse is a HUGE indicator for gun violence. That’s why 'vouching for friend' isn’t a substitute for a background check.” She also noted that “if a background check would be a problem, then you shouldn’t ‘lend’ a gun,” while arguing that her state is one of the safest regarding gun violence.
You said w/ universal background checks, you wouldn’t be able to “lend” guns to friends.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 4, 2019
If a background check would be a problem, then you shouldn’t “lend” a gun.
And btw, NY is one of the safest states in the country when it comes to guns, incl rural areas.
Try to keep up. https://t.co/4RV4DNg7FM
On Saturday, a gunman opened fire between the Texas cities of Odessa and Midland, killing seven and wounding several others. Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke said the suspect, who was killed after engaging with officers, used an AR-type weapon during the attack. The incident came weeks after mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left 31 dead. US President Donald Trump addressed the latest shooting Sunday, telling reporters that he is in talks with Congress about measures to reduce gun violence, yet noted that the latest incident "hasn't changed anything" related to the discussions.
