From the Charleston Post and Courier (Full story here)
A South Carolina Republican congressman is not backing down from critics after he pulled out his own personal — and loaded — .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun during a meeting with constituents Friday.
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, told The Post and Courier he pulled out the weapon and placed it on a table for several minutes in attempt to make a point that guns are only dangerous in the hands of criminals. He was speaking to constituents about gun violence during a public meeting at a diner in Rock Hill.
"I'm not going to be a Gabby Giffords," Norman said afterward, referring to a former Arizona congresswoman who was shot outside a Tucson-area grocery store in 2011. "I don't mind dying, but whoever shoots me better shoot well or I'm shooting back."
Lori Freemon, a volunteer with the South Carolina chapter of a gun control group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, argued Norman's actions were "a far cry from what responsible gun ownership looks like."
"I had looked forward to a respectful dialogue with my representative about common-sense gun violence prevention policies," said Freemon, one of three people who were talking to Norman at the time. "Instead, I felt unsafe when he insisted on showing us his loaded gun and keeping it out on the table for much of our conversation.”
The incident happened at one of the "coffee with constituents" meetings that Norman, R-Rock Hill, often hosts around South Carolina's 5th congressional district.
Norman said he pulled out the gun, pointed it away from the meeting attendees and put it on the table for about five minutes while they continued their conversation over breakfast.
The move, Norman said, was intended to prove that "guns don't shoot people, people shoot guns." A concealed carry permit holder, Norman said he regularly brings his gun with him when out in public.