NH House GOP Leader's AK-47 Tweet Stirs Outrage

By Nancy West, InDepth NH

CONCORD, NH — House GOP Leader Jason Osborne’s tweet suggesting people buy more ammunition for their AK-47 instead of hot dogs the night before a gunman killed six people and injured 38 at a July 4th Parade from a rooftop in Highland Park, Ill., caused outrage on social media and finger-pointing in New Hampshire politics.

Osborne, who is serving his fourth term in the NH House representing Auburn, Chester, and Sandown, tweeted July 3 at 10:36 p.m.: “Instead of spending $20 more than last year on your Independence Day hot dogs, lay off the calories and grab a few more rounds for your AK-47. You’ll thank yourself later.”

The next morning, the deadly scene unfolded for paradegoers in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Osborne didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Rep. Rosemarie Rung, D-Merrimack, tweeted: “This is your daily reminder that this guy is the leader of NH House Republicans and he is on the ballot in November.”

A number of people tweeted asking the media to question Gov. Chris Sununu about Osborne’s tweet, which will likely happen at 1 p.m. today at his news conference on his housing initiative at the Department of Business and Economic Affairs in Concord.

Sununu didn’t immediately respond by email.

Less than two weeks ago, Sununu signed into law HB 1178 prohibiting the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Sununu said at the time: “New Hampshire has a proud tradition of responsible firearms stewardship, and I’ve long said that I’m not looking to make any changes to our laws.

“This bill will ensure that New Hampshire’s law enforcement efforts will be on our own State firearms laws – and that’s where I believe their focus should be,” Sununu said.

Osborne’s Twitter feed was filled with angry comments opposed to the tweet.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.