E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Photo on Brad Staats' Facebook page
A Republican candidate for Congress says his Facebook post featuring a photo of his gun and a “Welcome to Tennessee” message for Barack Obama was in no way meant as a threat to the president.
“Good Lord, no,” Brad Staats told The Tennessean in a telephone interview on Monday. “Absolutely not. I’m not one of those that would ever threaten the president. He’s probably got enough of his own stuff to worry about without me.”
Staats, who is challenging five-term Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, says the Facebook post was in reference to the recently passed U.N. Small Arms Treaty, an international agreement aimed at keeping firearms from terrorists and rogue regimes. The treaty was opposed by gun-rights advocates who fear it could encroach on civilian gun-ownership rights at home.
"I do want President Obama to know as well as the rest of Congress and everyone else regarding our constitutional rights, don't tread on America's constitution," Staats told WKRN-TV. "I think that your liberties, your life can be defended by the proper instructed use of a handgun."
The controversy is over a Sept. 27 post Staats made to his "Brad Staats for Congress" page on Facebook. Along with a photo of a black Colt 911 semi-automatic pistol, Staats wrote:
“Many people in Tennessee keep asking me about my opinion on Second Amendment rights. Apparently Tennesseans are part of that crazy crowd that Obama says 'cling to their religion and guns.' Well, then I must be part of that crazy crowd. Here is something that I usually have with me. Welcome to Tennessee Mr. Obama, where we appreciate our 2nd Amendment rights and the Constitution that was wisely given to us by our founding fathers.”
Staats told The Tennessean he is a member of the National Rifle Association and carries his gun for protection.
“There are just a lot of law-abiding citizens here that carry their guns,” Staats was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “There are a lot of people in Tennessee that believe in their Second Amendment rights.”
Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com
The post picked up dozens of “Likes.” One woman wrote: "All I have to say to your statement is AMEN BROTHER!! I also totally agree with you on Obama 100%, get that socialist out of here before it's too late. You have my backing sir for congress. Best of Luck to you.”
Staats followed up with another post on Monday referring to the WKRN story:
"Special thanks to WKRN for their story regarding my Facebook post. I wonder what picture I will have to post tomorrow for Congressman Cooper to accept my debate challenge?"
Not everyone was as gung-ho about the gun post.
Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter
“Your vitriol and gun waving is really a sad commentary for a civil society. It translates to bully behavior. Nothing more,” one commenter wrote.
“You've had your fifteen minutes, Brad. It's too bad you couldn't have found something more positive to have become infamous for,” another said.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- A week later, search still on for 73-year-old accused of killing daughter-in-law
- Video: Like hurricanes, winter storms to get names too
- Cell phone video shows cop striking woman after Philadelphia parade
- State Dept: Missing American journalist Austin Tice believed held by Syria regime
- NYPD commissioner blames rise in crime rate on Apple thefts
Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Good Lord, No; I'm not one of those who would ever threaten the President - I'm just an f-ing idiot.
PS: Vote for me, if you think we don't already have enough idiots in congress.
yep - you sure DO have this piece of craps number!!! But then again most of us do. they just keep thinking up ways of saying hate and bigotry and fear and masking it - but willard got caught at his own selfish game - talking to his good old boys. i can tell ya if that's what he said - you can only imagine what is said to these creeps behind closed doors. they are all bigots just trying to get their "message" of hate and bigory and lies out in anyway they can - they mask their statements behind what they believe are facts - they belittle and keep women down by telling us how it's religious or this crap or that bull@!$%#!!! they will NEVER tell me what i can and can not do according their religious fanatical beliefs. i don't impose my beliefs on them AND THEY WILL NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO IMPOSE THEIR FANATICAL BELIEFS ON ME. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 - AND YEP - @!$%# - WE HAVE YOUR NUMBER
Wasn't that a hoot. Williard should read his bible more and so should these other teap/conser. Says "be careful, dig a ditch for another man, be careful you don't fall in it. Look's like he fell in it.
95% of what conservatives think Obama is is a charactature, or straw man. a flawed representation that exists for the sole purpose of being easier to oppose and argue against than the real thing.
This individual is not someone who should be sent to DC to engage in the critical issues that lie ahead. He has every right to express his viewpoint but he hardly reaches any reasonable threshold that would make him worthy of becming a US Congressman.
Hopefully the people of his district can send someone who can be taken seriously and can work to solve our most pressing problems.
So you think anybody in congress NOW can be taken seriously and is working to solve our most pressing problems?
I don't own a gun, but I have a FB account.
I'm no good at public speaking, but I have a cool username.
You can continue this discussion. Thanks.
What's the big deal. He posted the reason why he did it. Was there any threat to Obama. NOT one word or even a suggestion of such a stupid idea, that was only put out by the Obama administration to cover Obama's tail about the guns and religious nuts in TN.
So how many TN people think they are religious nuts and crazy gun toting idiots? That is what Obama thinks you are. So why are you even considering voting for the guy who thinks you are bunch of backward hicks.
Even if he insults to your very core I bet if it comes down to it, if you are black you will vote for him. Hum, maybe he's right.
steven - you are a moron - your statements make me sick. any black man, woman, minority, immigrant or average american citizen who votes for your fear mongering liar, bigot, money stasher is out of his or her minds. don't target the blacks - it's ANYONE who votes for this piece of crap who cares only for himself and his good old boys which you most probably are one. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
I am a gun owner. If I show you my weapon, that is a threat. god, what cowards you people are. If you are going to say something, back it up, dont shrink and say "ohhh its not that!!" BTW we have guns too.
read his message which seemed a bit strong - adding a picture with it sure doesn't help in people interpreting it!
YEAH ASSOHOLE - WE HAVE YOUR NUMBER - WHO THE F.... DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING???! It's just like you tea baggers repUbs to think we are ALL stupid. take your gun and shove it up your ass. You ARE A THREAT - YOU ARE A THREAT TO SOCIETY AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL VOTE YOU THE F.... OUF OF OFFICE - you and your guns and your bigotry and LIES!!! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012. I absolutely despise low life scum like you.
Try as they may, what is up is quite obvious.
Some people just can't seem to get over the fact that a Black man is in the White House.People GET OVER IT!!!!
Words no longer mean anything. They can be twisted to mean anything to anybody. Probably why we should wait for actions before condemning.
Only a MORON would go out on a limb and insinuate that Obama is "gonna' take our guns away" when they CANNOT POINT TO ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION SIGNED BY OBAMA that interferres w/ the 2nd ammendment, and they IGNORE THE FACT that Obama has signed legislation to ALLOW MORE FREEDOM TO GUN OWNERS by allowing CC in NATIONAL PARKS!!!
Friggin' nazi propigandists.
Hey, Fox News reported just yesterday that President Oboma wants to turn over internet control (shutting it down) to NATO! So, why isn't anybody talking about that? Communist's want to control the press, and freedom of information, when the masses disagree with them! [:-(]
Because the National Rats A-Holes oppose a United Nations resolution to keep guns away from terrorists, does that mean the NRA is a Muslim-loving organizaton that aids and abets terrorism?
No it just means that as Americans we know better than to yield to a faux agency like the UN. A worthless organization who points the finger at America while at the same time holds their hand out for more aid.
I prefer to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have one.
u can tell the true lunitics in hear wont even us there real name
of course it wasn't a threat. because you aren't a total moron and understand that the fact is obama has expanded gun rights in this country by allowing us gun owners to bring our weapons into national parks! you'd have to be a total @%)!# for brains to think obama has done anything anti-gun! yup. only a total frigin D-bag incapable or normal human thought would think that.
Here's a novel idea. Debate tomorrow right?
Why don't someone ask President Obama about what the small arms treaty does??
If it doesn't effect the Constitution , he'll answer it knowing he won't be losing votes.
But , IF the UN thinks they can muddle around in our laws, and he supports it??
Then those poll numbers might shift considerably.
Pls forgive him..He forgot to take his Meds: One pint Gin,Four hits of Meth and eightball of Crack..QID.
BULL___— it is apparent that that was a direct and deliberate attack on the president of the United States in a very threatening manner. No doubt in my mind he should be arrested !!!
No Matter what his views are. It is AGAINST the Facebook rules to post weapons. Why don't they just remove his post or ban him.
Even an idiot GOPuke can see this is an implied threat on the President of the United States. Treasonous.
I'm pretty conscious of any attempt to deprive myself or others of their constitutional rights. That being said, how come I don't feel or see any real attempt by the Federal Government to restrict the ownership of non-assault weapons, much less violate the Bill of Rights? Gun advocates, please explain why you're so afraid.
They should sell guns in vending machines. I can never have enough of them.
Mr. Staats: Why make such a post when you KNOW how people will react? This is just plain stupid.
Just sitting in my house clinging to both my guns and religion, thinking about the business I did not build and worrying about in which of the 57 states to expand my business so that the Federal government can redistribute my wealth.
LOL. How much wealth do you have? Can we have some? Now don't be stingey. Did you pay your 14% income tax this year?
Signed: the 47%. The ones not dependent on the gov't. dole or your hard earned dollars Mitt.
people like Staats are just one of the many reasons Tennessee has a reputation of being a gun totten bible thumping state. I am from Tennessee and I see it all the time. that one of the many reasons I did not like W.Bush. he sounded just like he came from TN. if his gun picture and welcome to TN did not mean anything then why post something that means nothing - I always heard a fool and his money are quickly parted, I wish the same could be said for a fool and his ignorance