Surprise: New York Republican to retire from House — a week after endorsing gun control – By Allah Pundit (Hot Air) / June 3, 2022
I wrote about this guy on Sunday, puzzling over his announcement that he’d support a new assault weapons ban even though … no one’s seriously proposing a new assault weapons ban. Even outspoken gun-grabbers in the Senate like Chris Murphy aren’t wasting time on it, knowing there won’t be 60 votes. So why would Rep. Chris Jacobs volunteer that he’s in favor given that he has a tough primary coming up in August and his position was destined to piss off Republican voters?
Congressman Chris Jacobs goes on the record saying he would support a series of gun control measures, including banning access to semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s, restricting magazine capacity to 10 round, & raising minimum age to 21 for firearm purchase. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/9uMFYsb1jZ
— Ashley Rowe (@TheAshleyRowe) May 27, 2022
The best I could do to make sense of it is that his new district encompasses parts of Buffalo, the site of the horrendous supermarket massacre last month, and therefore Republicans there might be somewhat more receptive than usual to gun-control measures. But still: An assault weapons ban? Which isn’t even on the table?
Five days later, Jacobs has declared that his congressional career is over:
Congressman Chris Jacobs @RepJacobs just announced he will not run for election in NY-23 after losing support from Republicans and Conservatives for making remarks a week ago in support of a federal assault weapons ban. pic.twitter.com/R0PbCT2jfL
— Ryan Whalen (@RyanWhalenCT) June 3, 2022