Kentucky Republican suggests using Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth as 'target practice'

A Republican candidate for Kentucky secretary of state tweeted Tuesday that he would like to use Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth as target practice.

Carl Nett, a former member of the U.S. Secret Service who also worked under contract with the CIA, was responding to a tweet from Yarmuth, who was bragging about his F grade from the National Rifle Association.

I’m so proud of my @NRA rating, I’ll wear it on my chest. I invite my colleagues to join me in wearing our F ratings every day until the GOP finally stands up to the gun lobby and helps us pass common sense gun safety legislation. Find me to get a pin. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/sOECS54QOK — Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) March 19, 2018

Yarmuth said he is asking colleagues to join him in wearing a button with the "F" rating on it every day until "the GOP finally stands up to the gun lobby and helps us pass common-sense gun safety legislation. Find me to get a pin."

Nett responded: "Move it over just a bit. I was trained center mass."

Nett, who deleted his tweet, later responded by saying he would die for politicians he disagreed with.

"Friends, I protected Barack Obama, John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton," Nett tweeted. "I voted for none of them. I would have DIED for any of them. My oath is to the Constitution. ALL politicians should keep that oath, first and foremost."

A Yarmuth spokesman told Courier Journal that in the wake of a shooting that targeted congressional lawmakers last year, U.S. Capitol Police has "directed officers to be diligent in reporting all threats to members' safety. They are aware of this situation.”

Yarmuth, who lives in Louisville, has been an outspoken critic of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and President Trump and their positions on gun control in the wake of numerous school shootings.

"Trump should be providing some leadership," Yarmuth told Courier Journal last month. "If you’re for gun policy or not, he should be saying we need to look at every possible solution to gun violence.”

Nett briefly served as a campaign spokesman for Louisville mayoral candidate Angela Leet last year. In a tweet, Leet, a Republican, distanced herself from Nett's message.

"Mr. Nett was never on staff for the campaign — he volunteered before staff was hired. He has not been involved since deciding to run for office," she said. "We do not condone threats or violence."

The Kentucky Democratic Party issued a statement saying he was "unfit to be elected for or hold any Kentucky office."

“Carl Nett’s comment about shooting Rep. John Yarmuth is not only alarming but terribly offensive given the numerous shootings including one in Great Mills, Maryland today,” Kentucky Democratic Party Chairperson Ben Self said in a statement. “Nett, a current Republican candidate for secretary of state and campaign contributor to Gov. Matt Bevin, is obviously unfit to be elected for or hold any Kentucky office. Any threats of violence cannot be tolerated in our current political or public forums.”

Kentucky Republican Party spokesman Tres Watson also slammed Nett's comments as unacceptable.

"We believe the tweet was inappropriate," Watson said in a statement. "We condemn any suggestion of violence against public servants, even if in jest."