ELENA A Billings Republican legislator said Saturday he believes the U.S. Constitution calls for the shooting or jailing of those who identify as socialists.
State Rep. Rodney Garcia, from House District 52 on the South Side, first made a statement in the form of an unprompted question at a state party gathering in Helena Friday meant to kick off election season and offer training for party members and candidates.
In his question after a speech by former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who was Montanas representative in the U.S. House for two years, Garcia said he was concerned about socialists entering our government and socialists everywhere in Billings, before saying the Constitution says to either shoot socialists or put them in jail.
The Montana Republican Party later condemned Garcia's remarks.
In this year's presidential election, President Donald Trump has often called Democrats "radical socialists" in an attempt to use the term socialism, which is defined as theories about collective or government ownership and operation of the means of production and distribution, as a boogeyman-like phrase to criticize proposals from Democrats where the federal government would play a larger role in areas like health care or education.
All but one of the Democratic Party candidates have repeatedly explained they are not socialists, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders calls himself a democratic socialist.
After Zinke responded with a non sequitur You know, Montanas a great state, Garcia said back: We have to do something.
Zinkes answer to Garcia didnt engage in Garcia's statement and pivoted to talk about the former Secretary's effort to open satellite offices of the Interior department in the western part of the U.S.
On Saturday, a reporter asked Garcia to clarify his remarks.
So actually in the Constitution of the United States (if) they are found guilty of being a socialist member you either go to prison or are shot, Garcia said.
Garcia could not to point to where in the Constitution it says socialists could be shot or jailed.
Asked to clarify if he thought it was fair to shoot or jail a socialist, including those who live in Montana, Garcia said yes.
Theyre enemies of the free state, Garcia said. What do we do with our enemies in war? In Vietnam, (Afghanistan), all those. What did we do?
Asked if that was an appropriate response to his opponent from the last election cycle, Garcia said according to the Constitution, Im telling you.
I agree with my Constitution, Garcia said. Thats what makes us free. Were not a democracy, were a Republic Constitution.
In 2018 Garcia ran against Amelia Marquez for the House District 52 seat in Billings.
He should try changing their minds via rational discourse instead of resorting to violence, imo. ---