REPUBLICAN gun rights activist Lauren Boebert has led a charge against the new metal detector measures at Capitol Hill following the violent protests.
Boebert criticized the Capitol's screening process demands and branded it a "political stunt" from Nancy Pelosi.
Who is Lauren Boebert?
Born December 15, 1986, Lauren Boebert is an American politician and gun rights activist serving as the US Representative for Colorado's 3rd congressional district.
Boebert defeated incumbent congressman Scott Tipton in the 2020 primary election, becoming the first woman to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional district in Congress.
The gun activist owns Shooters Grill, a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, where staffers are encouraged to openly carry firearms.
During Beto O'Rourke's 2020 presidential campaign at Aurora, Colorado, Boebert challenged the presidential hopeful over his proposal for a gun buyback program, saying, "Hell, no, you won't take our guns."
In November 2020, Boebert said she planned to carry a gun while working as a congresswoman on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
What did she say about metal detectors at Capitol Hill?
Boebert has been outspoken about carrying her firearm around town and onto the Capitol grounds.
"I am legally permitted to carry my firearm in Washington, DC, and within the Capitol complex," she tweeted.
"Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week – it’s just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi."
In early January, Boebert wrote a letter to the House urging them to let a 1967 rule allowing lawmakers to carry firearms in the Capitol stand.
Boebert walked through the detectors holding her bag on January 12 and, when the alarm went off, she refused to hand over her belongings to be searched.
Despite not appearing to have her bag checked, Capitol police reportedly allowed her into the House chamber.
What have other Republican leaders said about Boebert's actions?
Several Republicans hit back at Capitol police, including Representative Rodney Davis saying "this is bull."
Rep Markwayne Mullin said that cops "can't stop me" from entering the House, as well as Louie Gohmert who walked around the detector for that reason.
"You can't stop me; I'm on my way to a vote," he said.
Rep Steve Womack kicked off when he walked through the detector, telling cops: "You are creating a problem you do not understand the ramifications of."
He also told them to "get back," and "don't touch me."
Congresswoman Debbie Lasko echoed Boebert's comments on Twitter, also blaming the change on Speaker Pelosi.
"For members of Congress to enter the floor of the U.S. House, we now have to go through intense security measures, on top of the security we already go through," Lasko tweeted.
"These new provisions include searches and being wanded like criminals. We now live in Pelosi’s communist America!"
Source: Read Full Article