Misfire: Inside the Democratic Efforts to Win Over Gun Owners

Democratic gun gaffes aren’t exactly helping the party’s efforts to win over gun owners, but Democrats are trying.

Tim Walz, Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is joined on stage by former Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords and current Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. Ross D. Franklin/AP

Reporters are used to catching flak from Senate candidates. Literal shrapnel is a different story.

Last week, local Missouri TV reporter Ryan Gamboa became the latest victim of a gun accident, after Missouri Senate candidate Lucas Kunce fired an AR-15 at a steel target and parts of the bullet ricocheted into Gamboa’s upper arm.

The reporter was not severely injured. He actually continued on assignment before eventually heading to the hospital. But the accident may do more harm than good — both physically for Gamboa and politically for Kunce — as Democrats try to court gun owners.