The Topeka Capital-Journal today provides some interesting backstory to U.S. Senate candidate Milton Wolf’s boast that his “firearm of choice is the Ruger SR-556,” a semi-automatic rifle.
According to the Capital-Journal, Wolf bought the weapon six months before announcing that he would primary incumbent senator Pat Roberts. After the purchase, he thanked the seller for “helping Karrie and me get into the big black scary gun community.”
At least one prominent Kansas Republican isn’t buying Wolf’s act. Anne Hodgdon, whose husband sold Wolf the rifle, told the newspaper, "It bothers me when people feel they have to own sexy guns to be a Second Amendment patriot. It was part of Milton Wolf creating an image for himself. He's playing a role.”
Wolf, the primary challenger to three-term U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, speaks about buying a lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association, discloses possession of a Kansas concealed-gun permit and reveals his wife, Karrie, to be a more accurate shot than himself.
In the same breath, the Leawood physician identifies his favorite assault weapon and assures voters not everyone in his family thinks like distant cousin Barack Obama.
"My firearm of choice is the Ruger SR-556," he said. "I have hatred towards no man — only towards bad government that destroys our freedom."
At campaign stops, Wolf didn't repeat reasoning he shared with a federal firearms salesman for buying a pair of Ruger carbines six months before entering the race.
"Thanks again for helping Karrie and me get into the big black scary gun community," Wolf said in an email to the seller. "We'd love to give them a test drive with you guys sometime soon."
Anne Hodgdon, a prominent Kansas Republican, said she was uncomfortable with Wolf's repeated campaign references to the SR-556s. Her husband, J.B. Hodgdon, sold the weapons to Wolf. Wolf sent a note confirming the acquisitions in April and his campaign went live in October.
"It bothers me when people feel they have to own sexy guns to be a Second Amendment patriot," Anne Hodgdon said. "It was part of Milton Wolf creating an image for himself. He's playing a role. There are people buying into it."
Wolf, a physician, is still facing a scandal over his posting of x-rays of gunshot victims on his Facebook page.
He frequently uses the issue of gun rights to attack President Obama, who is his second cousin. In September, the Christian Post conveyed this anecdote :
"It's true, Barack Obama and I are cousins. And I would guess because of that you may wonder if I'm the real deal or not. You may have a little concern about me. Let me assure you that I am from a branch of the family that has actually read, understands and believes in the constitution," declared Wolf.
"In fact, I think I'm everything that's wrong with Barack Obama's America. I've got a wife, a job and a gun," he continued, before adding that he has several guns, not just one.
