Pro-gun commentator Dana Loesch referenced a 19th century massacre of Native Americans to imply the U.S. government would slaughter its own citizens in order to enforce an assault weapons ban.

During the third Democratic presidential primary debate on September 12, candidate Beto O’Rourke doubled down on his proposed assault weapons ban and mandatory buyback program, telling ABC News host and debate moderator David Muir: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore.” The remark drew criticism from Republican Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who threatened O’Rourke after his debate appearance in a since-deleted tweeted that read, “My AR is ready for you Robert Francis.”

Loesch, a former National Rifle Association spokesperson, appeared on Fox News the following night to denounce the proposed policies and accuse O’Rourke of making “a threat” to “forcibly steal [gunowners’] lawfully owned and responsibly used property.” Loesch also referenced the massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which she said was “one of the earliest attempts at mass confiscation of firearms in the United States.” “So I don’t know if that’s what Democrats and Beto O’Rourke are trying to move us towards,” she said.