For a man who has a comprehensive collection of modern weapons, you're making a pretty bold statement about John Browning's most famous firearm by calling it a "cheap-ass gun."  Folks, can we have some common sense here? First off, this man's words are by no means a threat. He says rather clearly that he has had several constituents ask him of his opinion on gun control. The picture of his personal weapon was posted in response to that. If a man posts a picture of his weapon on facebook, that's no different than posting a picture of your car. You bought it, you use it, you're proud of it, and you can kill somebody with it if you're particularly careless, neglectful, or stupid.  Following his statement of his opinion, he points out that many people in Tennessee are proud of the second ammendment and support it. This is true. Tennessee is a shall-issue state, and many residents here take the oppurtunity to attain and utilize a concealed carry permit.  After he establishes this fact, he states, "Welcome to Tennessee." This is the only potentially threatening aspect of the post, which, like many other statements, can be taken out of context. However, given the context of the post, I'd venture to say it's pretty obvious that this means exactly what he posted above. Welcome to Tennessee, where we believe in the right to bear arms. It's simply a statement of fact, albeit a cynical one that implies the President's lack of this knowledge. But hey, this country protects freedom of speech and opinion, so what the hell.  On to the part that really grinds my gears, though. Many have posted here claiming that Tennessee is a racist state, Tennessee is a hotbed of radical right wing extremism, Tennessee is dumb white trash, and that this man's actions is representative of those qualities listed above. I find this rather offensive, and moreover, it's hypocritical to an unfounded degree.  Racism is simply another form of stereotyping. "One man has these qualities, therefore all men that share (this attribute) are this way." Well, tell me how classifying an entire state by the perceived recklessness and ignorance of a single man is any different. Please, enlighten me as to how you can categorically condemn every individual in the sovereign state of Tennessee by the actions of one Congressional candidate.  Moreover, for those of you who have pointed out that Tennessee is full of backwards, chaw spitting, gun-slinging, black-hatin' rednecks, you can go straight to hell. I have been all over this country, and I have seen far more racism, far more bigotry, and far more stupidity in other parts of this glorious country than I ever could have conceived possible in Tennessee. The treatment, for example, of hispanics and Armeniens in Los Angeles was absolutely absurd. While people rarely said it to their face, these Americans quickly became "spics," "beaners," and "Armos" as soon as their backs were turned. This doesn't make every person in Los Angeles racist, of course. In fact, the vast majority, and I emphasize vast, are probably very tolerant people. Regardless, these events occurred.  Similar events occur everywhere, including Tennessee, but this state is no worse than anywhere else. To judge the residents of this state by their location of birth is absolutely assenine, and I stand against it. Frankly, it's people like that that make me regret having served this nation at times.  As for me? I'm a Tennessean, and I'd say I'm far from a backwoods hick. I graduate college in May, I served five years in the United States Marine Corps, seven months in Iraq. I'm a certified electrician, and I have a family that I provide for. Yet according to some of these "people" the very fact that I'm a conservative Tennessee gunowner precludes that I have three teeth, pluck a banjo, and shoot at the guv'ment whenever they come around these here parts.  I'm all for debate on the issue at hand, but how 'bout we leave my state, and by virtue of some of these statements, her residents out of it? I'd really appreciate that.
A Republican candidate for Congress says his Facebook post featuring a photo of his gun and a “Welcome to Tennessee” message for Barack Obama was in no way meant as a threat to the president.