New Hampshire Republicans Wear Pearls to Mock Mothers Who Want Gun Control

In the wake of near-constant mass killings and school shootings, many Americans are supporting gun control reform. Groups like Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety have campaigned tirelessly to close loopholes in current gun laws and enact more common sense gun safety regulations. Even teens are speaking up and making their voices heard, as we’ve seen from the remarkable students of Stoneman Douglas High School.

These earnest pleas for gun control and safety have been met with scorn and derision by the NRA, Fox News, and Republicans.

Republicans continue to cruelly mock gun violence survivors, and this case seems particularly egregious and vicious. Today in the New Hampshire State House, several Republican state reps sported pearl necklaces during a meeting at the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

The pearls were intended to mock the mother of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization of women devoted to gun control reform. Because ladies are always clutching their pearls, right fellas?

The story came to national attention when Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts tweeted the following:

The hearing was regarding the proposal of a “red flag law,” wherein judges can order guns to be confiscated from individuals who appear to be a danger to themselves or others. Watts said of the pearls, “They made light of this very important law that has been passed in nine states in the past year, and signed by Republican and Democratic governors alike. They showed they were not coming to this hearing with an open mind, and they were making light of survivors who were testifying on the suicide of a child, or women who were survivors of domestic abuse.”

Meanwhile, conservatives are claiming that the pearls were worn and distributed by the Women’s Defense League of New Hampshire, a conservative group of female second amendment supporters who oppose gun control laws. Kimberly Morin, the president of the WDLNH said that they wear the pearls “in defense of women’s right and the Women’s Defense League since then, because we are moms just like they are only on different sides.”

However, many on Twitter saw the pearls as a callous attempt to mock and intimidate Moms Demand Action and gun control supporters.

Does this anger you? Are you a resident of New Hampshire, or any other state where elected officials reject gun control? Then let’s do something about it in 2020.

(via New Hampshire Union Leader, image: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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