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Arizona candidate Gary Kiehne says Democrats behind shootings

Posted at 5:01 PM, May 17, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-17 23:38:54-04

A Republican businessman running for Arizona's 1st Congressional District says most mass shootings in the U.S. are committed by Democrats.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that Gary Kiehne made the remarks at a Republican primary debate Saturday in Florence.

Kiehne, a Springerville rancher, told the 60-member audience that "99 percent of (mass shootings) have been by Democrats pulling their guns out and shooting people."

HEAR AUDIO OF KIEHNE'S REMARKS HERE

State Rep. Adam Kwasman, also a candidate and was there, said he supports gun rights.

House Speaker Andy Tobin, who is also running, did not attend.

The debate was put on by the Pinal County Republican Committee.

The Aug. 26 primary election will decide who faces incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick.

The mostly rural district is the state's largest district by area.