Conservatives Upset Over Jim Carrey’s ‘Assault Rifle’ Tweet
The actor, who is mostly known for comedic roles, took on a serious tone when he used Twitter to focus on the gun debate that has emerged in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.
Add Jim Carrey to the list of celebrities who have earned the ire of the right for publicly expressing an anti-gun sentiment. The actor, who is mostly known for comedic roles, took on a serious tone when he used Twitter to focus on the gun debate that has emerged in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.
The backlash began after Carrey tweeted the following over the weekend:
Any1 who would run out to buy an assault rifle after the Newtown massacre has very little left in their body or soul worth protecting. ;^
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) February 2, 2013
Predictably, the actor’s statement did not go over well with those on the right with pro-gun views.
The Huffington Post:
This, of course, did not go over well with those who fear Obama himself will at any minute walk through their front door and take away their guns (except the ones they use for skeet shooting).
Fox Nation referred to the comment as “nasty”, while conservative blog WND noted, “‘Dumb and Dumber’ doesn’t begin to cover this one.”
Red Alert Politics writer Erin Brown wrote about it at length, decrying the tweet as a “careless remark … rooted in the shallow, parroted talking points so commonly espoused by liberal elites.” She went on to lament the popularity of Carrey’s statement: “Sadly, his divisive comment has received more than 3,400 retweets and more than 1,600 ‘favorites’ as of this printing, proving once again that the power wielded by Hollywood celebrities carries a very real influence.”
Carrey didn’t seem to be too fazed by the criticism, however, tweeting about the topic again Tuesday:
Yes, i agree with the ppl who argue that cars can be as deadly as guns but a car is a lot harder to get through the door of a classroom. ;^]
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) February 5, 2013
— Posted by Tracy Bloom.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
The actor has escalated the feud between himself and Fox News over his anti-gun Funny or Die video "Cold Dead Hand" by mocking the cable news channel for the criticism it has leveled against him.
A look at the day's political happenings, including Nate Silver makes a prediction about gay marriage and North Dakota sticks it to women by enacting the nation's strictest abortion law.
The comedian, who supports gun control, will probably earn the National Rifle Association's ire by starring in a satirical Funny or Die video that spoofs firearms enthusiasts like the late Charlton Heston, the NRA's former spokesman.
More than 1,057,000 people have been killed by gun violence in the U.S. since the former Beatle was shot to death, according to the text above a picture that his widow tweeted.
There are 506 organizations and people named, which, as Wonkette points out, means that "it’s virtually impossible not to find something on that list that represents you or something you believe in."
A petition seeking to deport the CNN host for speaking out in favor of gun control has garnered enough signatures to elicit an official response from the Obama administration.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.