A Democratic candidate for the West Virginia state Senate was brutally attacked at a political cookout just two days before the state’s primary in an attack his family believes was politically motivated, WSAZ reported.
Richard Ojeda suffered eight facial fractures, severe swelling, and a concussion after suspect Jonathan Porter allegedly showed up to a Sunday cookout uninvited, according to the report.
Porter allegedly asked Ojeda, a military veteran, for help putting a bumper sticker on his car and started beating him with brass knuckles when he bent down to help, the local station reported. Witnesses told police the suspect also tried to run Ojeda over with his car while trying to flee the scene.
Porter turned himself into police about six hours later and was charged with felony destruction of property, malicious assault and attempt to commit a felony, according to WSAZ.
After the attack, Ojeda posted a photo of his battered face from the hospital on Facebook, and said he believes the attack was planned.
“Make no mistake….I am now even more dedicated to the cause. This doesn’t scare me and I don’t quit! This was premeditated and there was a reason the guy did this,” he wrote.
Ojeda’s opponent in the race, incumbent state Sen. Art Kirkendoll, strongly condemned the attack in a statement.
“I was informed that my opponent was physically assaulted and injured at a political function today. I do not now, nor have I ever, condoned violence. It has no place in our political campaigns or in our communities,” Kirkendoll said.
Welcome to AmeriTrump 2016.
Coward.
"I was informed that my opponent was physically assaulted and injured at a political function today. I do not now, nor have I ever, condoned violence. It has no place in our political campaigns or in our communities,” Kirkendoll said.
“You know, we were very disappointed that the governor decided to veto the bill," said Art Thomm, Vice President and lobbyist for the West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League.
Thomm noted that the bill saw overwhelming support in the West Virginia legislature, passing each vote in both the House and Senate with a majority vote.
Despite the support in the state’s legislature, many still felt that the bill was not in the public’s best interest. The bill would have eliminated the requirement to get a concealed carry permit in order for a legal gun owner to carry a concealed firearm in West Virginia.
This would have done away with the required safety courses and background checks that are requisite to getting the permit, and certify that the permit holder has reached acceptable benchmarks in training and criminal history.
For Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, losing these safety measures posed too many doubts for the well-being of his constituents.
"Without any training, without any background checks, that means basically that any and everyone can carry a gun in West Virginia, no matter what their past had been or what kind of record they may have,"Governor Tomblin said.
“Letting people all over the state just have concealed guns- it’s just not right,” said Kenny Lemaster, Sheriff in Berkeley County. “Not for the people that’s carrying them, and definitely not for the people that may be on the receiving end of an accidental discharge of a weapon.”
West Virginia.
Yep. We’re now definitely in Trump’s world. Ugh.