SC Dems ask police to investigate GOP lawmaker pulling loaded gun in constituent meeting

The Democratic Party in South Carolina has requested that state police probe whether the Republican congressman who took out a loaded gun during a meeting in his district broke the law, The Herald reported Monday.

The state party asked both the South Carolina attorney general and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief to look into Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.).

{mosads}”Congressman Norman has important questions to answer for law enforcement and the people of the 5th district,” said Trav Robertson, the chair of the Democratic state party, according to The Herald.

A spokesperson for SLED told the newspaper that law enforcement will review the request once it is received.

Norman has come under scrutiny for displaying the handgun and for comments he made during the meeting about former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was shot during an event with constituents in 2011.

“I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords,” Norman said during the meeting, according to The Post and Courier. “I don’t mind dying, but whoever shoots me better shoot well or I’m shooting back.”

The incident comes amid an intense debate about gun legislation that broke out anew after 17 people were killed in a high school shooting in Florida in February.