Representative Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, misspelled the name of the Maine city where a mass shooting occurred on Wednesday night when "sending prayers" to the victims.
At least 18 people were killed and at least 13 more injured after a gunman opened fire at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, according to the Associated Press. Robert Card, 40-year-old a trained firearms instructor, was identified as the suspect in the shooting and remains at large.
Boebert took to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday night to address the shooting, saying: "Sending prayers to Lewistown, Maine tonight. Know that the entire country is praying for you." The congresswoman's post had a typo in it—she misspelled Lewiston as "Lewistown."
However, people on social media seemed more concerned over Boebert's support for gun rights and her seemingly ungenuine post amid increasing gun violence in America.
Shelley Davis replied to Boebert's post with photos of children who lost their lives to gun violence alongside a photo of Boebert smiling while holding up a T-shirt with a picture of a firearm on it that read: "Since we're redefining everything. This is a cordless hole puncher." Along with the photo, Davis said: "If only bad guys with guns would hear your fake thoughts and prayers. Hypocrite." X user Frank Tomich, on the other hand, praised the shirt on social media saying, "THAT is a great shirt. I want one!"
Another X user, Molly Ploofkins, said: "Sthu, Lauren," along with a photo of a family Christmas photo of Boebert and her four boys, all of which are holding firearms. However, Tricia Scharf defended Boebart's family, commenting: "You shut up, her family had nothing to do with this."
"Enough with the thoughts and prayers do something to prevent gun violence or we will elect someone that will," X user Ashley Wilson said and tagged Adam Frisch a Democratic congressional candidate for Colorado's 3rd District who is "running to unseat Lauren Boebert," according to his X bio.
Meanwhile, others on social media voiced their support for gun rights. An X user named Charles argued that "the people in the gun regulated areas can't defend themselves...It just shows that people wanting to do harm will find a way." Another X user who goes by Lady Lady Heidi A.B. said: "Many prayers. This is another of many reasons that Our 2A is not up for discussion nor debate..."
Newsweek reached out to Boebert's office via email for comment on Thursday.
Boebert has been a staunch gun rights advocate. In the wake of a mass shooting in Boulder in March 2021, the congresswoman told Newsmax that the call for tougher gun restrictions was a "knee-jerk reaction" that would "limit our ability to defend ourselves."
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was charged with ten counts of first-degree murder, among other charges, in relation to the shooting. Boebert posted a clip of the interview on social media at the time and said: "There are no gun laws that would've stopped Ahmad Al-Issa from killing ten Americans in cold blood."
Bobert owned a restaurant in her hometown of Rifle, the Shooters Grill, where employees were encouraged to carry firearms during work, for nearly a decade until it closed in 2022. The congresswoman said the restaurant closed because the landlord decided not to renew their lease, but insisted the decision wasn't political.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Rachel Dobkin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on politics. Rachel joined Newsweek in ... Read more
