Joe the Plumber's letter to Elliot Rodger's victims families

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Political mascot-turned-gun-advocate Samuel 'Joe the Plumber' Wurzelbacher wrote an open letter to grieving parents who lost their children to mass-murderer Elliot Rodger
'As harsh as this sounds,' he insisted on a conservative blog, 'your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights' to own guns
Wurzelbacher was responding to Richard Martinez, who blamed his son's death on the NRA and 'craven, irresponsible politicians'
He became a GOP sensation in 2008 when candidate Barack Obama told him at a campaign event that 'when you spread the wealth around' with taxes, 'it's good for everybody'
The crass letter, he wrote, wasn't directed at the parents of Rodger's stabbing victims

By David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor

Published: 17:07 EST, 27 May 2014 | Updated: 17:39 EST, 27 May 2014

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A former Republican congressional candidate who owes his mini-stardom to a chance encounter with Barack Obama during his first presidential campaign wrote in an open letter to shooting victims' families that their grief can't override the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

I am sorry you lost your child, wrote Samuel Wurzelbacher, known in conservative circles as Joe the Plumber. 'I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through now.'

'But: As harsh as this sounds – your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights.'

His harsh words came a day after Richard Martinez, whose so Christopher was gunned down Friday night by mass-killer Elliot Rodger, blamed the National Rifle Association and 'craven, irresponsible politicians' for his son's death.

Craving attention? Samuel 'Joe the Plumber' Wurzelbacher (R) campaigned alongside vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008 and faded from public view after Barack Obama won the White House

Roar: Richard Martinez, the father of mass-shooting victim Christopher Martinez, angrily denounced the National Rifle Association for his son's death, along with 'craven, irresponsible politicians' who refuse to change gun laws

Christopher Martinez, 20, was killed in Friday's shooting rampage at the I.V. Deli Mart in Isla Vista, California when deranged gunman Elliot Rodger open fire

Rodger went on a stabbing-and-shooting spree near the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wurzelbacher became a Republican mascot when Obama answered his question about bisuness tax increases on a rope line in 2008, saying that 'when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.'

He published his open letter at BarbWire, a conservative blog.

Martinez, he wrote, 'can say whatever he wants and blame whoever he'd like – it's okay by me.'

'You can't take a step in his shoes – at least I can't.'

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'But the words and images of Mr. Martinez blaming 'the proliferation of guns,' lobbyists, politicians, etc.; will be exploited by gun-grab extremists,' he argued, 'as are all tragedies involving gun violence and the mentally ill by the anti-Second Amendment Left.'

He insisted that he will 'continue to speak out' for his right to own a gun, 'and against those who would restrict it – even in the face of this horrible incident by this sad and insane individual.'

'I almost said "Obama Voter," Wurzelbacher added, referring to the gunman, 'but I'm waiting for it to be official.'

Rodger stabbed three of his six victims to death, but the conservative activist was quick to point out that he was speaking 'only to the families of the gunshot victims.'

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The Ohio handshake that launched a cult celebrity: Then-Senator Barack Obama sparred with Wurzelbacherin 2008 over tax policy, famously saying that 'when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody'

Makeshift memorials have spring up near Santa Barbara, California, including this one dedicated to Christopher Martinez, a UCSB student

UCSB graduate student Jeb Sprague held a gun-control sign on Friday after the killings, but before Richard Martinez blamed the mass shooting on the NRA and America's gun culture

And addressing Martinez, he sniped: 'Any feelings you have toward my rights being taken away from me, lose those.'

Martinez has seemed laser-focused on gun control since his son was tragically murdered.

He told The Washington Post on Tuesday that he's tired of politicians calling him with condolences but without a plan to prevent the next gun massacre.

'I don't care about your sympathy,' he said he tells them. 'I don't give a s*** that you feel sorry for me.'

And with tears rolling, he told the Post what he demands of them.

'Get to work and do something. I'll tell the president the same thing if he calls me. Getting a call from a politician doesn't impress me.'

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Sillygal, London, United Kingdom, moments ago

No surprise there. His statement reflects the same sentiment posted on here by his fellow idiots in the United States who love their guns more than their children

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Lipblips, Houston, moments ago

The point of gun control is that spree killings are overwhelmingly done with guns and automatic ones at that. Gun obsessed people are in denial of this plain fact. We cannot and should not allow those with intent to gun down others to be given a free pass as happended with Rodger, Lanza, Holmes and all the others. This kind of armament is not the spirit of the 2nd amendment. "Not One More!"

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yve, UK, United Kingdom, 9 minutes ago

Terrible, crass, all for effect thing to say. From where I'm standing it's not so much the USA Gun Laws at fault as the Mental Health system in the States. Having followed American comments on the shooting it seems there is little anyone can do to get potentially dangerous people looked after properly for their own and the community's welfare. There are plenty of guns in the rural areas of Britain needed for pest control and other reasons and since so many American states have vast rural areas to take them away would be ludicrous, and expose the householders to personal risk. Owning a gun does not mean you will ever fire it. I really don't believe this is much about Gun ownership, it's about appalling Mental Health laws and care facilities..

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billinmj, Kansas, 10 minutes ago

What these liberal left wing idiots don't realize is, one, the right wing idiots (as they call us) are not the only ones who own guns in this country, I know plenty of liberals who own guns, many of those are in the Army with me. Second, they do not realize that when one right is taken away, then it makes it that much easier to take even more rights later on. Third, they underestimate the willingness of all of us to actually fight for our rights. So go ahead and try taking our guns, I dare you!

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JackyBassett, City of London, United Kingdom, 10 minutes ago

Callous heartless gun nut who frankly shouldn't be allowed near a gun.

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lilrascal, Eastern, United States, 12 minutes ago

I doubt Elliot Rodger voted. From what I read of his manifesto he probably hadn't learned where babies come from yet. Has anyone given Martinez a sedative yet? He seems irrational.

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PrettyKing, Michigan, United States, 13 minutes ago

How disrespectful, rude, and insensitive. I hope nothing ever happens to one of his kids. He has no idea what this man is going through. He's just trying to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. Yes his efforts are probably pointless and everyone has the right to their own opinion. But some stuff just shouldn't be said. And disrespecting someone's dead child shows what kind of human being you are.