Joel Ebert

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

One day after the worst mass shooting in American history, Rep. Andy Holt firmly stood behind his decision to give away a semiautomatic rifle similar to the one used in the Orlando, Fla., shooting before receiving "death threats" from an anonymous caller.

While announcing his plans last week to hold his first "Hog Fest and Turkey Shoot," Holt, R-Dresden, said he will give away an AR-15 as a door prize to an attendee of his June 25 fundraiser.

The event also is scheduled to include a turkey shoot — participants are encouraged to bring their own rifle and ammo.

Holt said despite Sunday's massacre in Orlando that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, he remains stalwart in his belief that the weapon used in the mass shooting is not to blame.

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"It has nothing to do with the style of weapon. It has everything to do with who’s behind the weapon," said Holt, who has sponsored several gun bills, including one recently enacted law that allows full-time employees at Tennessee colleges and universities to carry weapons on campus.

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Holt said the weapon is the type that can be used for multiple purposes, including hunting, target shooting and self-defense.

He said the only thing wrong with the AR-15 is that "it’s black and it looks real scary," adding, "If I beat somebody to death with a hammer that’s just a hammer. But if I was to take and wrap it up in electrical tape and make it black I guess that would make it an assault hammer."

Holt said there is no functional difference between any semiautomatic weapon and an AR-15, and argued that it didn’t matter that an AR-15 had been used in various American mass shootings in recent years, including the 2012 shooting in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater and last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. "It's not about the gun. It has everything to do with the position and condition of that person’s heart that’s behind the gun pulling the trigger," he said.

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When asked how someone could determine whether a person has a good or bad heart while trying to obtain a weapon, Holt said, “Ultimately we don’t know the answer to that question. But what we do know is that the vast majority of weapons that are used are not used for those unlawful purposes. They’re used for lawful purposes of defending one’s self.”

Turning to the issue of background checks, when Holt was asked if he believes there needs to be additional steps taken, he said, "I believe there needs to be decreased amounts of that for lawful citizens. The Constitution is very clear that all Americans, all U.S. citizens, have the right to keep and bear arms."

In March, Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, brought an AR-15 style rifle he purchased in a parking lot to the Tennessee legislature to argue for additional background checks. Stewart's efforts failed to make it out of committee.

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Holt said mass shootings frequently occur in gun-free zones, a point that defenders of the Second Amendment frequently make.

According to Florida state law, a person cannot carry a gun openly or concealed while in any establishment that sells alcohol on the premises.

“When we deprive people of their opportunity to defend themselves, this is what happens,” Holt said. “Innocent individuals are sitting ducks.”

Holt argued that gun-free zones should not exist in any public spaces in Tennessee, while standing behind his plan to introduce a bill next year that will allow students to carry guns on college campuses.

He said Omar Mateen, the New York-born gunman responsible for Sunday's shooting at a gay nightclub, was a "crazed Islamist" and an "ISIS devotee."

Supporters of the Islamic State have praised the massacre on social media, but it remains unclear if the organization had any knowledge of the attack before it occurred. Initial reports suggest Mateen called 911 in the midst of the attack and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Holt said Mateen should have never been able to obtain the weapons he used during the shooting, given the fact that he was interrogated by the FBI in separate incidences.

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"There were some very clear indicators — not once but twice or three times — this man had pledged himself to ISIS," Holt said. "Guess what? If you do that, I don't think you should have any guns."

Holt said there was a clear difference between Mateen and the average law-abiding Tennessean who wants to purchase an AR-15, adding that the Orlando massacre is further proof that "Islam is at war" with the United States.

In an effort to stave off future massacres, Holt said, the best way to stop a "crazed individual who is wielding a firearm" is to have armed citizens who can take action.

FBI 'highly confident' Orlando killer was radicalized

"I would encourage everyone in the state of Tennessee today if they don’t have a firearm to go out and purchase one. And if they have a firearm, go out and purchase another one to be trained in the execution of using that weapon in a dangerous situation," he said.

In a post on Facebook, Holt said he was "furious" because the federal government has not recognized the threat of radical Islam and lawmakers such as U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, have blamed the Second Amendment.

In a statement issued Sunday, Cohen called for House Speaker Paul Ryan to bring a bill to the chambers' floor that would ban assault weapons and-high capacity magazines.

Holt said he also was furious that he received an inquiry about his AR-15 giveaway but wasn't asked "how many extra firearms I'll be handing out to ensure people can protect themselves. After all, it was a bullet that stopped the terrorist."

"I want you to arm yourselves and learn to shoot with deadly accuracy should the need arise. Protect your family. Protect yourselves. Protect your friends. Our government has made it quite clear that it is incapable of doing so. At the end of the day, it's your responsibility anyways," he concluded.

In the late afternoon, Holt announced on Twitter that he planned on giving away two AR-15s at the fundraiser.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini immediately ripped into Holt, saying, "We’re furious that in the wake of this tragedy, state Rep. Andy Holt is being such a reckless and irresponsible gun owner.

"Andy Holt doesn’t know if he’s putting the winning raffle ticket in the hands of the next mass shooter," Mancini said.

Late in the day, Holt's legislative assistant, Michael Lotfi, says he fielded a series of phone calls from an anonymous Memphis-based male caller who said he would come to Nashville on Tuesday to "beat our a--es," Lotfi said in a statement. Lotfi, who said the caller said he had multiple guns, and Holt reported the incident to state troopers.

Holt blamed the threats on the "left wing," saying, "Here we are trying to ensure that people have the right to protect themselves, and we’re getting death threats over it? These liberal activists are threatening to bring their guns to the Capitol and harm people. … It makes zero sense, but it’s what we have come to expect. I’d sure like to see where Democrat leaders are on condemning this type of behavior from members of their party rather than letting it go unchecked."

It is unclear whether the caller identified himself as a Democrat.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.