Tennessee Politician Giving Away Assault Rifles at Fundraiser

A Tennessee state representative is planning on giving away an assault rifle as a prize at an upcoming fundraiser. The unorthodox giveaway has been criticized following the Orlando gay nightclub shooting that killed 49 people and left 53 wounded.

Rep. Andy Holt (R) wrote on his website Saturday that he would be holding a fundraiser event, specifically a hog fest and turkey shoot, where he'd be giving away an AR-15 rifle as a prize.

Despite initial reports from Orlando Police, an AR-15 was not used by the gunman in Orlando's shooting. It has, however, been used in mass shootings in San Bernardino, Calif.; Aurora, Colo.; and Newtown, Conn.

Holt toldNBC affiliate WSMV in a phone conversation the gun shouldn't be the focus and said, "We should focus on the depravity of the heart of the person who's pulling the trigger."

Holt also said he didn't think the assault rifle giveaway was offensive given the timing.

"It's not intended to come across as offensive," said Holt. "It's intended to help people."

When asked if a person armed with a handgun could kill as many people, he said a person would be able to "inflict a lot of damage." Holt said, "A Molotov cocktail would have done the same thing."

And he certainly doesn't think banning guns is the solution:

In fact, he told Channel 4 the AR-15s popularity is the media's fault. "Why do we see the repeated use of the AR-15? Well because it's interviews like this," Holt said. "It's because of the media's absolute infatuation with the AR-15."

Holt was reportedly asked by Channel 4 if he would still hold the AR-15 giveaway after the Orlando shooting, and he'd also giveaway a second AR-15. But he insists his decision to giveaway two AR-15s wasn't because of Orlando.

According to Holt, he and a staffer were threatened after Holt's comments about the controversial giveaway.