Lucas Kunce’s recent campaign event in Holt, Missouri, where he hosted union members for a shooting session, spiraled out of control when a KSHB 41 News reporter was accidentally injured.
Reporter Ryan Gamboa was struck in the arm by a metal fragment while Kunce was firing an AR-15-style weapon, leading to comparisons with the infamous 2006 incident where then-Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot a hunting companion.
Although Gamboa was treated and released from the hospital, the incident could not have come at a worse time for Kunce, who is in a tight race against Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). While most polling has shown Hawley in the lead, a few have Kunce closing the gap, making every campaign event critical in the final stretch.
Serious question. Missouri law *requires* any person who causes injury with a firearm to file a report with law enforcement immediately. Did Lucas Kunce do that? Failure to do so is a crime 👇 pic.twitter.com/GF6q2dLYMz
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 23, 2024
Kunce’s decision to host a shooting event—particularly one that involved former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a NeverTrump Republican—has drawn criticism. The event seemed to backfire, both figuratively and literally, with Kunce’s handling of the mishap attracting further scrutiny.
Kunce tweeted about tending to Gamboa’s injury, but it was Hawley and his Senate staffers who jumped on the incident, pointing out Kunce’s mismanagement.
The incident also sparked a flurry of discussion on Twitter/X, with many commentators suggesting that Kunce’s photos from the event demonstrated what not to do at a shooting range. Critics seized the opportunity to reiterate the point that Democrats and firearms often don’t mix, further complicating Kunce’s attempt to appeal to Missouri voters, many of whom prioritize gun rights.
The scene after Josh Hawley’s opponent @LucasKunceMO accidentally shot a reporter at an event with Adam Kinzinger pic.twitter.com/OMtVjJ6dYr
— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) October 23, 2024
For a campaign looking to close the gap with a popular Republican incumbent, this latest mishap doesn’t help Kunce’s chances and raises questions about his campaign’s ability to handle critical moments effectively.