Sen. Mark Kelly warned against rhetoric used by his Republican competitor Kari Lake after she told voters to “put on a Glock” to prepare for the 2024 election.
The Arizona Democrat called his competitor’s rhetoric “dangerous” and said Lake’s words “could get people hurt or killed.”
Kelly is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt at a campaign event in 2011 but was shot in the head and left with lifelong injuries.
He told NBC News Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in an interview Sunday morning that the words can “absolutely” translate into violence.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said Kari Lake’s rhetoric is “dangerous” and could “get people hurt or killed.”
Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake told a crowd at a campaign event in April to “put on a Glock” as the 2024 election season heats up.
“Kari Lake has never been elected to anything,” Kelly said. “I don’t expect her to ever be elected to any office, but when you’re running for the United States Senate you have to be careful with your words.”
Lake, who is running for the Arizona Senate for outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat, told a crowd to “put on a Glock” while speaking last month at a Republican dinner in Mohave County with law enforcement officials and veterans.
He told the audience that the next six months until the November election will be a “crazy race.”
‘They are going to come after us with everything. That’s why the next six months are going to be intense,” Lake said.
And he added: ‘What do we want to wear? Let’s put on our seat belts. We’re going to put on our Kari Lake helmet or cap. Let’s put on the armor of God.’
Then maybe put a Glock on the side, just in case. “You can put one here and one in the back or one in front, whatever you decide,” he said, pointing to his hip.
Senator Kelly’s wife, former Representative Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head during a campaign event in 2011. Giffords (pictured) survived the assassination attempt, but suffers life-long injuries from the shooting.
Lake’s comments come at a time when there have been rising tensions as the 2024 election season heats up and growing concern about political rhetoric leading to violence.
‘We are not going to be victims of crime. They are not going to take away our second amendment. “These tyrants are certainly not going to take away our first amendment,” he added.
Kelly’s future colleague representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate will likely be Lake or Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
Arizona is one of the most contested states in 2024 for both the presidential election and the Senate race.
President Biden beat Trump in Arizona by just over 10,000 votes in 2020. But Trump won the swing state in 2016.