Montana Democrat and country singer Rob Quist is running for The Treasure State’s sole seat in the House of Representatives (it’s vacant because Rep. Ryan Zinke is now Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke). His opponent, Republican Greg Gianforte, has targeted Quist’s gun rights record. And why not? Quist wants to establish a federal gun registry for “assault rifles.” Like this [via meanwhilemontana.com]:
“They’re only meant to kill people,” he said. “So maybe there should be some legislation to register those types of things. You register your car to drive, why not register guns. I know that’s a touchy subject for a lot of people, but I think we definitely have the right to bear arms and as I say I’ve been on many hunts myself where I’ve brought home an elk that fed our family and that’s an important thing for Montanans.”
Gianforte — portrayed as an interloper despite having lived in Bozeman for 24 years — capitalized on Quist’s gun registry proposal with the ad above. Quist fought back against his portrayal as a “gun grabber” with his own Joe Manchin style “I’m Elvis You’re Robert Goulet” ad:
Notice that Mr. Quist shoots the TV with a lever gun, not a semi-automatic rifle, and that there’s no mention of that deeply unconstitutional gun registry idea of his. Not to mention the fact that Mr. Quist isn’t wearing ear or eye pro, and that he’s chicken winging that long gun.
Yeah, that’s not going to do it. Or is it? We shall see.