RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, today released the following statement in response to a Facebook post by Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus County) calling people protesting against police shootings “ignorant thugs,” “criminals,” “domestic terrorists” and “vermin.” “If they resist and attack police, he said they should “shoot them,” the Charlotte Observer reported.
“Rep. Pittman’s racist, inexcusable comments are reprehensible and go against everything we stand for as North Carolinians,” said Madhavi Krevat, a volunteer with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Shame on him, and shame on Republicans who have turned a blind eye to comments like these.”
“We’re finally talking about the impact of police violence on Black people in America – and Rep. Pittman’s response to that much-needed conversation is to encourage more police violence against Black people in America,” said Alanna Miller, a volunteer leader with Students Demand Action at Duke University and member of the Students Demand Action national advisory board. “His callous racism and incitement of violence has no place in our legislature or in our state.”
Rep. Pittman has previously asserted that the shooter who perpetrated the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a part of a conspiracy to “push for gun control so they can more easily take over the country.” He also described Abraham Lincoln as the “same sort of tyrant” as Adolf Hitler.
Voters in North Carolina support stronger gun laws by a 6:1 margin, and 79% consider a candidate’s position on guns “very important” to their vote in 2020.
