Alabama state Rep. Steve Hurst (R) hopes that the combination of guns and grills will help him cruise to re-election this year.

A photo of a float Hurst uses to message at parades, which is actually a large barbecue shaped like a revolver, was circulated Tuesday on social media. The lawmaker told AL.com that the float is a two-pronged messaging machine: it reminds constituents that he is both a small business owner (he runs a gun shop with his business partner) and a staunch gun rights supporter.

Hurst, who has served in the state legislature since 1998, successfully pushed for a change to a state law that forced homeowners to flee from intruders, according to AL.com. Alabama homeowners may now shoot at intruders in line with so-called “castle doctrine” laws.

But Hurst told the news site that he wasn’t thinking about the political statement the float would make when he bought the barbecue a year ago. He said he hasn’t received any negative feedback about the float either, as it’s popular with people who want to pose for pictures next to the fake handgun.

Rep. Steve Hurst is pulling out the big gun in his campaign. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/JlHKftOpi0 — greg varner (@varnergreg) April 21, 2014

h/t Reid Wilson

Image via Twitter