Arizona’s republicans are disavowing a stunt by a failed Tucson mayoral candidate, Shaun McClusky, who is offering free shot guns to Tucson residents. The offer by a Houston based group had been turned down earlier by Republican Party leaders who determined that the program did not serve to protect Second Amendment rights or inform the public about their Constitutional rights.
“McClusky is not now, nor has he ever held any official leadership position within Pima GOP,” said Carolyn Cox, chairman of Pima County Republican Party. “He is acting solely on his own, and misrepresented himself as a Party official in a recent survey he emailed to all Pima County Precinct Committeemen. Shaun McClusky does not speak for Pima GOP or any elected officials.”
The program is supported by a Texas-based philanthropist, whose representatives had offered between $12,000 and $15,000 to those willing push his shotgun program in their community, according to one conservative who had been approached about offering the program. That conservative rejected the offer saying that was a publicity stunt that had little value.
McClusky, now a Marana resident, opted to start the program in the city of Tucson, saying he was focusing on its high-crime areas.
“Although I believe there is a legitimate and undeniable problem with crime in our city, Republicans legislators are working with rational, pro-active and evidence-based solutions to improve the safety of our community. Our focus continues to be the enhancement of mental health first aid services, the procurement of additional School Resource Officers as well as facilitating better communication between citizens and police authorities. What any private citizen does with their own resources is their own business but should in no way indicate a policy stance or practice of the Republican Party as a whole.”
Across the Party’s ideological spectrum, Republicans say they are trying to focus on the issue of gun control and the concerns they have about preserving their Second Amendment rights. One Republican PC in a neighboring precinct to McClusky’s said of the program, “Enough already. Between Mark Kelly’s AR-15 stunt and McClusky’s, it is a wonder that any serious discussion can be had.”
The website posted on McClusky’s Facebook page notes that they are taking donations through “an operable pay-pal account,” and are not yet registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. According to the site, “The firearms will be purchased with donations to this site, and may cover other expenses that will be incurred in the process of the analysis portion of this project.”