US gun rights defenders could deal with Clinton: Trump

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump said Tuesday that "Second Amendment people" could prevent Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton from appointing nonconservative judges to the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a rally in North Carolina, Trump referred to gun rights supporters in the U.S. who say owning guns is a right given to the American people by the Second Amendment to the Constitution, and said they could stop Clinton from appointing liberal judges if she became president.

"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks," Trump said. "Although the Second Amendment people — maybe there is, I don’t know."

Some have said Trump's words suggested he was sending gun owners against Clinton if she wanted to appoint judges.

Trump's comments were widely criticized on social media for using a hateful rhetoric and praising violence.

Although Trump's campaign said the real estate mogul's comments referred to the Second Amendment defenders' huge political power and votes, Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook said in a written statement that Trump's words were "dangerous.

"A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way," Mook said.

Clinton has not spoken on the issue but shared Mook's press release on her Twitter account.