ABC News(HOUSTON) — A Republican lawmaker from Texas made what Beto O’Rourke called a “death threat” against the Democratic presidential candidate on Twitter, prompting a report to the FBI.
It began on the stage of the third Democratic presidential candidate’s debate Thursday night.
In response to a question about his proposal that owners of assault weapons be forced to sell them to the government, O’Rourke said, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.”
The comment was met with sustained applause and the candidate’s account later tweeted the line.
Hell yes, we're gonna take your AR-15.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 13, 2019
Texas state Rep. Brisco Cain, a pro-gun, Republican lawmaker, responded on Twitter, “My AR is ready for you Robert Francis.”
O’Rourke’s birth name is Robert Francis O’Rourke, and he has been mocked by Republican lawmakers for using his nickname, Beto.
Within hours, Twitter removed the tweet for violating its terms of service, but not before O’Rourke took a screenshot.
He responded with his own tweet, saying, “This is a death threat, Representative. Clearly, you shouldn’t own an AR-15—and neither should anyone else.”
Cain replied, “You’re a child Robert Francis.”
The O’Rourke campaign is reporting the original tweet from Cain to the FBI, a campaign official told ABC News.
You’re a child Robert Francis https://t.co/rU3WoYQFQV
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