Jim Lamon, a Republican running for a U.S. Senate seat from Arizona, is facing harsh criticism over a new ad set to air during the Super Bowl that shows him firing a gun at likenesses of President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat.
The ad is set up as a classic Western film in which Lamon plays a sheriff and Biden, Pelosi, and Kelly are depicted as masked bandits. What makes the ad so controversial, however, is the ad's depiction of shooting Kelly, who is the husband of Gabby Giffords, the retired House member and gun control advocate, who was shot during a 2011 assassination attempt.
Writing on Twitter, Lamon claimed that Arizona "has had enough" of "open borders, high gas prices, and shifty politicians pushing us around," a reference to the Biden administration and Democratic leadership.
You can watch the ad in the video below.
Arizona has had enough of the DC Gang\u2019s open borders, high gas prices, and shifty politicians pushing us around. @CaptMarkKelly @JoeBiden @TeamPelosi, it\u2019s time for a good old-fashioned showdown. \n\nCheck out our new Super Bowl ad, The Showdown, here pic.twitter.com/mJTbFuS0du— Jim Lamon (@Jim Lamon) 1644516409
Many have criticized the ad as insensitive and tactless and have called on Arizona voters not to support Lamon.
Unbelievable! Republican US Senate candidate, Jim Lamon, just released an ad in which he \u2018shoots\u2019 Mark Kelly and two other Democratic leaders. \n\nMark\u2019s wife, Gabby Giffords, was shot and seriously wounded about ten years ago. \n\nRaise your hand if you would never vote for Lamon.— Nathalie Jacoby (@Nathalie Jacoby) 1644591987
Everyone report this trash for what it is. Threatening violence against @POTUS ,and other members of our government. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head,and this traitor clown is shown shooting Mark Kelly. Her husband. This dude is dog ****!https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— AntifaBob(Adam)\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2696\ufe0fGet Vaccinated!\ud83d\udc89 (@AntifaBob(Adam)\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2696\ufe0fGet Vaccinated!\ud83d\udc89) 1644542829
Jim Lamon made a mistake. Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly are remarkable people who entered politics to make a difference and that is exactly what they are doing. Senator Kelly intimidates Lamon. Senator Kelly is EXACTLY where he should be.— CajunBlueAZ\u2122 \ud83c\udf35 (@CajunBlueAZ\u2122 \ud83c\udf35) 1644551841
I guess @Twitter changed the TOS and we can now tweet acts of violence. I mean that can be the ONLY reason @TwitterSafety still allows this low class bad taste post by a low class bad taste Arizonan. Mind confirming Twitter Safety so we can all be on the same page?https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— JWC\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@JWC\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1644545721
The same people banning books are posting crap like this.... smmfhhttps://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— Sade (@Sade) 1644548932
Cute. What is it with all of these cosplay commandos? Vote for me, I can make a stupid commercial! Notice he doesn\u2019t tell how he is going to \u201cfix\u201d anything\u2026just that he\u2019s going to play cowboy.https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— RETIRED MASTER CHIEF\u2693\ufe0f (@RETIRED MASTER CHIEF\u2693\ufe0f) 1644583134
For a party that loves to scream about violent movies and video games after a mass shooting, the GOP sure does like to make ads of them literally threatening to kill people. https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/d6DQ9pXedj— Joe Many Liberals (@Joe Many Liberals) 1644601187
Truly disgusting. What kind of piece of crap is this ignorant?https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— Mitch Smith (@Mitch Smith) 1644548345
This ass that wants to beat @CaptMarkKelly, I say arizonians need to send this POS a serious message #voteformarkkelly.https://twitter.com/jim_lamon/status/1491836062934704141\u00a0\u2026— Navy Man (@Navy Man) 1644587742
Lamon's ad has been criticized by the former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, Brian Murray, who called it "pathetic."
This is also the second controversial ad Lamon has released in as many months. Last month, he released an ad invoking the anti-Biden phrase, "Let's go, Brandon!" The ad prompted Yahoo News to announce that it would not approve the ad to run on its platform unless the phrase was removed.
@billieeilish/Instagram
@GovPressOffice/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social