LePage Tells Gun Owners To ‘Load Up And Get Rid Of The Drug Dealers’

FILE - In a Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 file photo, Gov. Paul LePage speaks at a news conference at the State House, in Augusta, Maine, where he apologized for his remark about out-of-state drug dealers impregnating "young ... FILE - In a Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 file photo, Gov. Paul LePage speaks at a news conference at the State House, in Augusta, Maine, where he apologized for his remark about out-of-state drug dealers impregnating "young white" girls. For five years now, the Republican has slung crude insults at his adversaries, heaped abuse on the media and offended many with his brass-knuckle tactics and off-the-cuff remarks. On Thursday, Jan. 14, lawmakers take up a longshot bid to impeach him. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — One day Maine’s governor is talking about using the guillotine on drug dealers. The next, he’s talking about using guns.

Gov. Paul LePage told reporters Wednesday that Mainers are allowed to carry concealed handguns and added: “Load up and get rid of the drug dealers.”

LePage later said he wasn’t suggesting vigilantism.

His comments during a visit to Lewiston come a day after he joked about using the guillotine on drug dealers.

The Republican governor has voiced frustration over out-of-state drug dealers he blames for fueling Maine’s heroin epidemic. He said he supports charging them with a homicide if their drugs are linked to an overdose death. He also said Maine should bring back the death penalty.

He’s routinely rankled critics for outlandish comments, such as saying dealers come to Maine and impregnate “white girls.”

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: