A friend passed along the screengrab (below) of a Facebook share of a New York Daily News article, What is it like to fire an AR-15? It’s horrifying, menacing and very very loud, posted today by Representative Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, on his personal Facebook page.

The post appears to have been deleted.



Update: The post is set to "Friends" and a reader posted this remark in our comment section:

Umm, Mr. Miller's post is not deleted. It's still there. Those commenting on it are pointing out the same thing Mr. Miller was attempting to point out ... the author of that article was either a complete pansy or just making things up. If a 11 year old girl can shoot an AR-15 with ease and precision I'm pretty sure something is smelling fishy and you maybe better do your homework better before you promote such an obviously fabricated piece of journalism.

We stand corrected about Representative Miller's intent--but not the tone deafness of the lawmaker's timing on the post. Or that of his explainer who remarks "the author of that article was either a complete pansy or just making things up."

The use of the word "pansy" ("a[)] usually disparaging : a weak or effeminate man or boy; b[)] usually disparaging : a male homosexual") on the part of the commenter to describe the New York Daily News writer is just a wee bit tone deaf.

We apologize for claiming that Miller deleted the comment and we were a bit tone deaf on Miller's tone. We'll certainly be skeptical of this friend's tips in the future [end update].

Miller supplied the headnote:

I love this. Temporary PTSD, fired like a bazooka (do they even exist anymore), sounds like a cannon, bruised his shoulder? Man, I would love to get my hands on his AR-15. The ones I've fired aren't nearly as intense as his! Jealous!

Gersh Kuntzman's article begins:

It feels like a bazooka — and sounds like a cannon. One day after 49 people were killed in the Orlando shooting, I traveled to Philadelphia to better understand the firepower of military-style assault weapons and, hopefully, explain their appeal to gun lovers. But mostly, I was just terrified. Many gun shops turned down our request to fire and discuss the AR-15, a style of semi-automatic rifle popular with mass killers such as San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook and similar to the Sig Sauer MCX rifle [link added] used by Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen. . . .

Perhaps Miller will explain himself by saying his comments were about the gun itself and not the content of the article or the context in which it was written. [see note above]

Whatever.

As a constituent of Representative Miller, we're used to him being a bit tone deaf about the sentiments of people whom he perceives as different from himself. Witness the exchange on Pioneer Public Television's Your Legislators between Minnesota marriage equality senate author Scott Dibble and Miller about the latter man's anti-transgender student bill that we wrote up in VIDEO: Scott Dibble schools Tim Miller about MSHSL transgender policy, MN anti-bullying law.

But failing to honor the nation's grief over mostly gay and Latino victim's at a popular LGBTQ nightclub is the act of someone who is at best a clod. At worst? Supply your own expletive.

Miller also campaigned against former state representative Andrew Falk's marriage equality vote--and has expressed doubts about the notion of equality in general. Nonetheless, one would expect a bit of restraining in jonesing for joking about firepower while the airwaves are still filled with the sobs of survivors and family members of victims of the early Sunday morning massacre in Orlando.

Uffda.

Screengrab: Minnesota State Representative Tim Miller reacted to a New York Daily News article, What is it like to fire an AR-15? It’s horrifying, menacing and very very loud, with expressions of disbelief of glee and jealousy before the bodies of the Orlando mass shooting victims were put to rest.

Bluestem Prairie is conducting its summer fundraising drive. If you appreciate our posts and original analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:

Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.