Questions raised after JoCo Commissioner’s post urges followers to arm themselves for ‘coming war’ – KMBC Kansas City

Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown urged constituents to buy firearms and prepare for a coming war" in a Facebook post that described a chaotic end to law and order. Brown, a Republican, used the hashtags All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter as he described violence, burning churches" and looting stores in the weekend post. I hear the war drum off in the distance from a not far away place foreshadowing in whispers the haunting cadence of the coming war," he wrote, urging people to buy a firearm and ammunition and take a class now to learn how to safely use it to defend yourself and your property, know what's happening around you at all times."The post is no longer public, but Brown said on Tuesday its the Left thats beating the war drum.And they know exactly what they're doing, Brown said.Brown said the post is a message to elected officials. He blames Democratic leaders, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, for not stopping violence and supporting local protesters.Lucas, a Democrat, retweeted images of it Monday and described the message as racist and reckless. Brown said the post is not a call to violence on his part.You have a Second Amendment right that guarantees your First Amendment right, Brown said. Your Second Amendment right, you should exercise that just like you exercise your First Amendment right. It is most certainly not a call to violence.Johnson County Commission chairman Ed Eilert noted that Brown was up for election in November.The voters in his district do have a decision to make," he said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. We want our community safe. We want law enforcement to operate in a safe environment. The feedback I read, and I hear, is people looked at that post and saw indications that there was a violent note to it. We understand free speech and Second Amendment rights, but it left the opportunity for many, many people to come away with the idea that it promoted violence.Brown's commentary comes after President Donald Trump said while laying out his case for re-election that a Joe Biden presidency would give free rein to violent anarchists, a contention that Biden has disputed.Brown wrote the post following the shooting of two sheriffs deputies in California.Brown said hes received lots of positive comments from people who read his full post. He thinks people criticizing have not read the whole thing.During his term, Brown has come under fire multiple times for his Facebook posts, including in March when he wrote that the COVID-19 pandemic is a political stunt and told constituents to get a grip. In recent months, Brown has sparred with other commissioners and public health officials over COVID-19 restrictions and the mask mandate.The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Johnson County Commissioner Mike Brown urged constituents to buy firearms and prepare for a coming war" in a Facebook post that described a chaotic end to law and order.

Brown, a Republican, used the hashtags All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter as he described violence, burning churches" and looting stores in the weekend post.

I hear the war drum off in the distance from a not far away place foreshadowing in whispers the haunting cadence of the coming war," he wrote, urging people to buy a firearm and ammunition and take a class now to learn how to safely use it to defend yourself and your property, know what's happening around you at all times."

The post is no longer public, but Brown said on Tuesday its the Left thats beating the war drum.

And they know exactly what they're doing, Brown said.

Brown said the post is a message to elected officials. He blames Democratic leaders, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, for not stopping violence and supporting local protesters.

Lucas, a Democrat, retweeted images of it Monday and described the message as racist and reckless.

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Brown said the post is not a call to violence on his part.

You have a Second Amendment right that guarantees your First Amendment right, Brown said. Your Second Amendment right, you should exercise that just like you exercise your First Amendment right.

It is most certainly not a call to violence.

Johnson County Commission chairman Ed Eilert noted that Brown was up for election in November.

The voters in his district do have a decision to make," he said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. We want our community safe. We want law enforcement to operate in a safe environment. The feedback I read, and I hear, is people looked at that post and saw indications that there was a violent note to it.

We understand free speech and Second Amendment rights, but it left the opportunity for many, many people to come away with the idea that it promoted violence.

Brown's commentary comes after President Donald Trump said while laying out his case for re-election that a Joe Biden presidency would give free rein to violent anarchists, a contention that Biden has disputed.

Brown wrote the post following the shooting of two sheriffs deputies in California.

Brown said hes received lots of positive comments from people who read his full post. He thinks people criticizing have not read the whole thing.

During his term, Brown has come under fire multiple times for his Facebook posts, including in March when he wrote that the COVID-19 pandemic is a political stunt and told constituents to get a grip.

In recent months, Brown has sparred with other commissioners and public health officials over COVID-19 restrictions and the mask mandate.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Questions raised after JoCo Commissioner's post urges followers to arm themselves for 'coming war' - KMBC Kansas City