February 01, 2021 12:15 PM UTC

Lauren Boebert is Only Pretending to Carry a Gun

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• by: Colorado Pols

Congresswoman Lauren “Q*Bert” Boebert (R-Fox News) has based her entire political persona around the image of her carrying a gun in a holster on her hip. You might recall that Boebert even filmed a viral ad about her gun-toting ways that was released in early January; she released the ad with a social media message that began with, “Let me tell you why I WILL carry my Glock to Congress.”

But as we first noted when metal detectors were installed outside of the House chambers in Washington D.C. on January 12, this is all a silly game by a cosplaying politician.

Boebert has indeed refused to allow her bag to be searched by Capitol Police trying to enforce new safety standards — racking up some hefty fines in the process — but there’s been no evidence that she was ever really toting her weapon around the Capitol. It may well be that she didn’t want her bag searched because she didn’t want to admit that there WAS NOTHING INSIDE.

Today, Boebert finally admitted as much:

Since we know the “fact checkers” won’t correct this, I’ll set the record straight…again.

I have never taken my gun onto the House floor.

I did not tweet Nancy Pelosi’s location.

I said she had been removed from the House Floor, which was public knowledge and shown on Cspan. pic.twitter.com/9wo3abTzOb

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) February 1, 2021

Remember, this narrative of Boebert with a gun has been regularly applauded and promoted by other right-wing Members of Congress. Witness Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on January 21:

They’re trying to disarm @laurenboebert on the floor of the House of Representatives because, ultimately, they’re coming to disarm many, many more

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 21, 2021

Baloney.

Boebert was notably NOT carrying a gun during the terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, though she told Fox News that several other Members were carrying their weapons that day. Unlike Boebert, Maryland Republican Rep. Andy Harris actually did try to bring a handgun onto the House floor two weeks ago, but was stopped by Capitol Police.

Look, we are certainly glad to know that a Colorado Member of Congress is not actually carrying a gun around on the House floor in defiance of local regulations and House rules. But after weeks of merrily stoking speculation about her gun-toting habits, it is more than a little curious that Boebert is only NOW acknowledging that this was all bullshit. If you happened to donate money to Boebert’s campaign committee because of her gun show…well, the joke’s on you.

Boebert has only been pretending to carry a gun around the Capitol, just like she has only been pretending to represent her constituents in CO-3. It may not be long before Colorado Republicans stop pretending to support Boebert altogether.