Sen. Richard Burr apologized Monday for saying he was surprised that a gun magazine with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s face on the cover didn’t have a “bullseye” on it. The comment, among others related to the presidential nominee, was made when Burr was in a private meeting with other Republicans in Mooresville, North Carolina.
“Nothing made me feel any better than when I walked into a gun shop, I think yesterday in Oxford, and there was copy of Rifleman [the NRA’s official magazine] on the counter,” Burr said. “It’s got a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it. I was a little bit shocked that it didn’t have a bullseye on it.”
Burr’s comments were recorded and posted on YouTube with CNN finding the video and reporting on the comments Monday. Burr issued the apology after CNN obtained the comments.
“The comment I made was inappropriate, and I apologize for it,” Burr said in a written statement provided to The News & Observer.
Democrats quickly condemned Burr’s comments, according to The News & Observer.
“Burr’s comments about gun owners shooting Hillary Clinton are dangerous and disgusting,” the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said in a news release.
In addition to this comment, Burr made other remarks about his policy and opinions on the Clinton campaign.
“I’ll tell you a little secret: The FBI never would have investigated the emails had it not been for a letter that [Sen.] Bob Corker and I sent to the inspector general of the intelligence community that kicked this all off,” Burr said, apparently taking credit for the FBI investigation.
Burr also spoke about the blocking of a judicial nominee in North Carolina.
“This is not tough for me,” Burr said. “I had the longest judicial vacancy in the history of the United States on the Eastern District of North Carolina. Not many people know that.”
In addition, the Senate candidate emphasized that he will block whoever Clinton proposes to fill the vacant on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“If Hillary becomes president, I’m going to do everything I can do to make sure that four years from now, we’re still going to have an opening on the Supreme Court,” Burr said.
