Joe Salazar rape comments inflame Twitter, spawn twisted #Liberaltipstoavoidrape
People react outside Gateway High School a few blocks from the scene of the Century 16 Theatre shootings in Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012.
Should you need further evidence that Twitter loves to twist political debate into something awkwardly uncomfortable and disconcerting, look no further than Rep. Joe Salazar.
The Colorado state senator for the Democrats found himself backpedaling Monday as he argued about a bill that would ban concealed weapons on college campuses.
He suggested women rely on campus security and whistles rather than guns.
“It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles. Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at,” he said, according to the Denver Post.
“And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop … pop a round at somebody.”
The bill, which limits the size of ammunition magazines and institutes background checks, passed.
"Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of bloodshed," Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields said, according to The Associated Press.
Salazar apologized on Monday, Fox News said, after getting raked over the coals in the court of public opinion.
He said he didn’t mean to offend anyone and has long championed women’s rights as the father of two girls.
That, somehow, spawned a lecherous Twitter war using the hashtag #liberaltipstoavoidrape, which started trending on the micro-blogging site this week.
Look away if you're squeamish.