GOP Congresswoman slammed for carrying 'loaded gun' around D.C. in a crazy campaign video

Newly-elected Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has courted controversy after posting a three-minute video showing her carrying a loaded gun and walking the streets of the Capitol complex and other parts of Washington D.C. Boebert, a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment Act, boasted about carrying guns and refusing to give up her 'rights' to carry firearms. The video starts with Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, loading a Glock before sliding it into a concealed hip holster and then walking about different parts of Washington D.C. while extolling the virtues of carrying guns. "Even though I now work in one of the most liberal cities in America, I refuse to give up my rights, especially my Second Amendment rights," said Boebert in the video. She posted the video on her first day in Congress. Boebert also described Washington D.C. as one of the "most dangerous cities in our country."

Boebert gained political mileage through right-wing Twitter circles after she objected to Beto O’Rourke's proposal to take away assault rifles. She told then-presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke at a rally in Aurora that he wouldn't be allowed to confiscate guns if elected. O’Rourke made the proposal after mass shootings in El Paso. In 2019 alone, 15,292 people were fatally shot in The United States, excluding suicides, according to data gathered by Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks shootings.

Her personality as a politician and her run for Congress was centered around guns. She's also the owner of Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado. One of her first orders of business after being sworn in was to object to an attempt by 21 House Democrats to prohibit members of Congress from carrying guns on the Capitol grounds. "I will carry my firearm in D.C. and in Congress," said Boebert. Along with 82 Republicans, she wrote a letter to House leadership opposing the change.

The Washington D.C. police chief, Chief Robert Contee III, said they would contact the representative's office to remind Boebert that non-residents are prohibited from carrying guns in D.C. unless they register with the police department. Contee III said he was aware of the video posted by Boebert. "What I will say to that is, there are no exceptions in the District of Columbia," said Chief Contee III at a press conference, reported Denver Post. "We plan to reach out to the congresswoman’s office to make sure that she is aware what the laws of the District of Columbia are, what the restrictions are. And that congresswoman… will be subjected to the same penalties as anyone else that’s caught on a District of Columbia street carrying a firearm unlawfully."

While members of Congress are allowed to carry guns on the Capitol grounds, they are not allowed to carry guns on the city streets of D.C. without a concealed carry permit. The state doesn't recognize permits from other states and territories. Boebert hit back saying she knows her gun laws and takes them very seriously. "I have gone through the concealed carry courses. There is a concealed carry permit for Washington, D.C. I have already gone through those courses. So, the D.C. chief of police is welcome to contact me," Boebert told Colorado Public Radio. "I don’t know if he’s contacting each and every person to make sure that they’re following all the traffic laws. If I said I was coming to drive in Washington, D.C., maybe he’d need to call me and let me know exactly what their traffic laws are. To think that I’m ignorant of D.C. carry laws just because I said I will carry is a little absurd."

Congresswoman Boebert also came under fire for reportedly inciting violence on Capitol Hill by urging Trump supporters to turn on January 6, on the day Congress was scheduled to certify Biden as the winner of the Presidential election. Boebert had also objected to Biden’s Electoral College victory and explicitly stated that she was representing the people protesting outside Capitol Hill. "Madam Speaker, I have constituents outside this building right now. I promised my voters to be their voice," said Boebert, minutes before they stormed the building forcing lawmakers to go into hiding and leaving a blotch on American democracy.