Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Did Trump hint gun owners could stop Clinton?

Republican Donald Trump has sparked anger by appearing to suggest his supporters could stop his rival Hillary Clinton by exercising their gun rights.

He said that Mrs Clinton would put liberal justices on the Supreme Court if she wins the presidency in November, threatening gun ownership rights.

Speaking at a rally in North Carolina, Mr Trump hinted that gun rights advocates could stop her taking power.

That sparked an online backlash, many accusing him of inciting violence.

He replied that he was only urging gun rights supporters to vote in large numbers.

But House Speaker Paul Ryan, the highest-ranked elected Republican, called it an inappropriate joke.

The remarks that sparked the firestorm were made at a rally in Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon.

The Republican presidential nominee said of his Democratic opponent: "Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks.

"But the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."

The Second Amendment enshrines the right to bear arms in the US Constitution.

A man sitting behind Mr Trump as he made the remarks assumed a look of disbelief as he heard them.

Trump's bunker mentality - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

Once again, Donald Trump's off-the-cuff style of speaking during his rallies has set the presidential campaign ablaze.

The Republican nominee said that gun rights advocates could do something about Mrs Clinton after she gets elected and tries to appoint judges. What could that be? His campaign's explanation that they would organise and vote simply doesn't track.

In a political environment where Trump supporters chant "lock her up", say Mrs Clinton should face a firing squad or worse, the Republican candidate's open-to-interpretation remarks likely throw gasoline onto a smouldering fire.

Americans often complain about the programmed nature of their politicians. Trump's faithful, in particular, deride polished candidates with their considered answers.

There's a reason why those seeking the presidency are exceedingly cautious about what they say. Every word is closely parsed, both in the US and around the world. A verbal misstep can be devastating.

Mr Trump ignores these rules. And as his poll numbers sink, he and his campaign are taking on a bunker mentality. The media are biased, the elections could be rigged, the polls are skewed, and Mrs Clinton is an unstable menace. It's Trump v the world.

And it's only August.

Twitter users were quick to respond to Mr Trump's comments, criticising the Republican nominee for appearing to encourage gun violence.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said that "unstable people" who hate Mrs Clinton could respond.

Image copyright Twitter

Image copyright Twitter

Robby Mook, Mrs Clinton's campaign manager, said "what Trump is saying is dangerous".

But Mr Trump was quick to respond, tweeting that he was referring to the political power of gun rights advocates.

Image copyright Twitter

His campaign said: "Second Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power."

"And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won't be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump."

Other controversial Trump statements he later clarified

And former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani backed Mr Trump, saying it clearly was not a threat but the press was involved in a "conspiracy to elect Hillary Clinton".

Some Trump supporters leaving the rally in Wilmington told CNN they were not concerned by the remarks because they were clearly a joke and they liked the fact he spoke off-the-cuff.

Image copyright Twitter

Image copyright Twitter

The National Rifle Association also backed Mr Trump and warned Mrs Clinton would pick judges that would not uphold the Second Amendment.

Mrs Clinton has made tightening some gun laws part of her campaign but there is no evidence that she wants to abolish the right to bear arms.

A spokeswoman for the Secret Service said the agency was aware of Mr Trump's comments but refused to answer additional questions.

Mr Trump's remarks come after eight days of negative headlines, controversial remarks and some leading Republicans saying they cannot vote for him in November's presidential election.

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