After Wednesday’s attack on Republicans at a congressional baseball practice, one GOP congressman is laying his cards on the table about concealed carry.
For Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who wasn’t at the practice, the attack hardened his resolve to carry a firearm for self-defense.
“If you look at the vulnerability, I assure you: I have a carry permit. I will be carrying when I’m out and about,” Collins told WKBW. “On a rare occasion I’d have my gun in a glove box or something, but it’s going to be in my pocket from this day forward.”
Collins believes that widespread, angry anti-Trump rhetoric by those on the left was responsible for the attack.
“I can only hope that the Democrats do tone down the rhetoric," Collins said. "The rhetoric has been outrageous—the finger-pointing, just the tone and the angst and the anger directed at Donald Trump, his supporters. Really, then, you know, some people react to things like that. They get angry as well. And then you fuel the fires.”