In a recent interview with The Guardian, champion Olympic shooter Kim Rhode took aim at liberal calls for gun control.
Rhode, a gold medalist who has medaled in five consecutive Olympic games, responded to questions regarding recent mass shootings by noting, “When you look at these events that have been occurring, they’ve been occurring in some of the strictest gun law countries in the world.”
“You have Paris, you have San Bernardino, which was actually in a gun-free zone,” she continued, “So, yeah, it’s actually something that you take into consideration.”
Rhode, who supported Mitt Romney in 2012, also discussed recently-passed legislation in her home state that will impact her ability to train, explaining, “We just had six laws that were passed in California that will directly affect me. For example, one of them being an ammunition law. I shoot 500 to 1,000 rounds a day, having to do a background check every time I purchase ammo or when I bring ammo out for a competition or a match – those are very, very challenging for me.”
In a July interview with NPR, Rhode noted the media’s obsession with questioning her about gun control after mass shootings. Her response to their questions? “They don’t ask the swimmers to comment after somebody drowns.”
Thankfully, Rhode is not intimidated by the media’s distaste for gun rights. In fact, she plans to amplify her voice as calls for gun control increase.
“I’m definitely becoming more vocal because I see the need,” Rhode told The Guardian.
In Rio, Rhode is aiming to make Olympic history by becoming the first U.S. Olympian to medal in six consecutive games.
