“No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.”
Every side of every political, social, or cultural argument has its bad apples. As Heifetz observed, the most correct and justifiable position ever taken will inevitably be defended by some who fellow defenders wish would abandon ship and retreat to the other side.
Gun rights are certainly no different, and the anti-gun crowd found itself embarrassed two years ago by a radical spewing hatred against a well-known gun rights advocate.
A 39-year-old South Florida man flexed his social media muscles in a disheartening way against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO). Matthew Lee Comiskey is no doubt a true believer in his cause, but he crossed the line from legitimate civil discourse into downright evil threats.
The messages centered on her solid support for the Second Amendment and contained an outpouring of offensive and threatening statements.
To put it mildly, the series of tweets are disturbing.
Aug. 31, 2021: “If I ever saw Lauren I’d be glad to take her out and go to prison. Would be a job well done.”
Sept. 8, 2021: “Don’t worry Lauren, someone is coming soon to show your face the 2nd amendment in practice with a copper jacket. Enjoy.”
Sept. 15, 2021: “Someone needs to put Lauren down like a sick dog. She is a true waste of life! Someone exercise their 2nd amendment right to her face! Since the @CIA is a failure and @FBI is incompetent at charging her for being a terrorist it’s time to do it ourselves! Pew pew Laurren.”
Sept. 17, 2021: “I’ve got my 2nd amendment tool all ready to destroy Laurren’s face! Hopefully in front of her kids.”
Sept. 17, 2021: “Don’t come to Florida us libs have big guns here and we stand [our] ground. Take you down like Trayvon.”
In June 2022, a U.S. Southern District Court of Florida grand jury handed down a five-count indictment against Comiskey for his online threats.
Boebert is noted for her support of gun rights. Before being elected to Congress, she owned Shooter’s Grill in her hometown of Rifle, Colorado. The establishment became famous for the practice of staffers openly carrying firearms.
She also was awarded A-ratings from the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Gun Owners of America.
Comiskey, who admitted to the progressively worse threats, clearly targeted the congresswoman for her support of the Second Amendment. He originally faced five counts of making an interstate threat but eventually pleaded guilty to a single count.
Now he will serve 15 months in federal prison.
The defendant became apologetic while he was being sentenced last week in West Palm Beach, Florida. Comiskey explained that he allowed his “personal emotions [to] get in the way of my common sense.” His mother related to the court that his vile social media posts were “out of character.”
Those arguments apparently carried little sway with U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg. Comiskey’s pleas for home confinement or a shorter prison sentence were rejected.
He faced between two and 20 years imprisonment for each count.
As is clear, reasonable people may harbor disagreements and still act civilly towards one another. Society breaks down when threats and violence replace respectful discourse among those who disagree, even passionately, over such fundamental liberties as the right to keep and bear arms.
Comiskey stepped far outside of the boundaries of civilized behavior in his attacks on a gun rights advocate, and now he will pay the price.
