Joe The Plumber to UCSB Parents: Dead Kids Don’t Trump Gun Rights

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, better known as Joe the Plumber, has some choice words for those parents who lost their children at the hands of the UCSB gunman.

It goes along the lines of “I’m sorry, bro, but don’t make it about you,” and it’s a horrendously perfect example of misplaced politics, and the impetuous defense of gun rights that still rule gun commentary today.

In an open letter posted at BarbWire of all places, Wurzelbacher wrote:

I am sorry you lost your child. I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through now. But:

As harsh as this sounds – your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights.

It’s not so much harsh as it is grossly inappropriate and selfish among other things. But he goes on:

Mr. Martinez and anyone calling for more restrictions on American’s rights need to back off and stop playing into the hands of the folks who merely capitalize on these horrific events for their own political ends.

They don’t care about your family or your dead children at all. They sound like they do, whereas I sound uncaring and like I say, harsh. Don’t be fooled – I care about your family and mine. The future of our very liberty lies in the balance of this fight.

In conclusion, I cannot begin to imagine the pain you are going through, having had your child taken away from you. However, any feelings you have toward my rights being taken away from me, lose those.

Richard Martinez, father of one of the victims Christopher Martinez, has been very vocal regarding gun control laws, calling on Congress to proactively prevent yet another gun-related tragedy particularly in light of the Sandy Hook shooting.

The UCSB shooting is a clear intersection of several issues including gun control, mental health, and culturally pervasive misogyny, and not one matter can completely eclipse any others. Obviously Wurzelbacher meant to polarize and stir shit up, but his words demonstrate a dedication and commitment to self-imposed ignorance that unfortunately dominates gun advocacy rhetoric.