JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley took aim Thursday at Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce for injuring a reporter while shooting an AR-15 at a campaign event earlier this week.
Ryan Gamboa, a Kansas City-area television reporter, was slightly injured Tuesday when a metal fragment hit him in the arm as Kunce shot an AR-15 rifle. Kunce and former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois were shooting at steel targets from a distance of about 10-15 yards, the Kansas City Star .
After Kunce provided first aid, Gamboa stayed at the private residence in Holt where the range was located, covering the event. He later visited a local hospital to be examined and was released.
鈥淵ou never know what鈥檚 going to happen 鈥 shrapnel can ricochet off anything, and you鈥檝e got to be prepared,鈥 Kunce told the Star in a written statement afterward.
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With gun safety experts critical of the gun range set-up, the incident undercut Kunce鈥檚 image as a gun-savvy Marine and gave Republicans fresh ammunition to use against the Democrat in the closing days of the campaign.
Hawley, speaking to a crowd of his supporters at the Fischer Farms Pumpkin Patch in Jefferson City, didn鈥檛 miss the opportunity to make fun of Kunce.
鈥淚 know we鈥檝e got some reporters here today. I just want to say to you guys, listen, I promise you I will not shoot you, no matter how many tough questions you ask me,鈥 Hawley told reporters at the event.
鈥淲hen you shoot ARs at 10 yards at a steel target, you鈥檙e gonna injure someone,鈥 Hawley said.
Phil Balsamo, training manager at in Ballwin, said shooting at a distance of 75 yards or greater is typically recommended when using an AR.
Shown a photo of the range, Balsamo said he would 鈥渁bsolutely not鈥 feel comfortable shooting there.
鈥淚f I had anything to say about it, I wouldn鈥檛 have let the shooting happen,鈥 he said.
Hawley said his understanding was an open-records request for a police report in the case was denied because the Clinton County sheriff had opened an investigation. A request for comment to the county sheriff鈥檚 office was not immediately returned Thursday.
Hawley also called attention to a report that the man who said the gun range was his, Chad Everett Downs, was charged with 17 counts of felony perjury in August. His ex-wife said in court that Downs owns guns or could access them in violation of his bond, the Star reported.
Kunce was scheduled to speak later Thursday at the United Auto Workers Local 2250 hall in Wentzville.
Hawley also addressed comments Thursday by Donald Trump鈥檚 former chief of staff John Kelly that the former president met 鈥渢he general definition of a fascist鈥 鈥 a 鈥渇ar-right authoritarian, ultranationalist ... dictatorial leader.鈥
Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday amplified Kelly鈥檚 comments, which were made in an interview with The New York Times, saying she believed Trump 鈥渋s a fascist.鈥
In response, Hawley said, 鈥淭hey鈥檝e already got the guy shot twice.鈥 This is encouraging wackos on their side, who have in the last few months, twice tried to kill him.鈥
鈥淛ust because somebody disagrees with you doesn鈥檛 make them Hitler,鈥 Hawley added.