Radio host tells Newtown families to go to hell for joining gun control debate

Bob Davis of 'Davis and Emmer' is upset by political role by victims. He's been under fire since making the comments. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013, 12:07 PM

DAVIS EMMER VIA YOUTUBE

Bob Davis, left with radio co-host Tom Emmer, infuriated gun control advocates with his rant against Newtown families.
A gun-loving conservative radio host in the Twin Cities is under fire for saying victims of the Newtown massacre can go to hell. Im sick and tired of seeing these victims trotted out, given rides on Air Force One, hauled into the Senate well, and everyone is terrified of these victims, Bob Davis, part of the "Davis and Emmer" show on KTCN, said in his vicious April 12 diatribe. I would stand in front of them and tell them, Go to hell! The bitter comment came as the climax of a lengthy monologue and after President Obama flew some of the families of the 20 children and six staffers murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary to Washington on his jumbo jet. RELATED: SHAME IN THE SENATE Just because a bad thing happened to you, doesnt mean that you get to put a king in charge of my life. Im sorry that you suffered a tragedy. But you know what? Deal with it, and dont force me to lose my liberty, which is a greater tragedy than your loss, Davis said.

Three days later, Davis continued his rant but the outrage kept growing until he issued an apology last week.

Newtown victims, including Mark Barden, have been front and center in the gun control debate since Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A Minnesota conservative radio host thinks they should go to hell.
I did not mean to criticize the families of the victims. ... I want to offer my most sincere and total apology to all the families for any further pain those words may have caused, he said, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. RELATED: SENATE REJECTS EXPANDED GUN BACKGROUND CHECKS; OBAMA CALLS VOTE 'SHAMEFUL' This Monday, Sandy Hook resident Brad Greene called Davis a coward and offered to fly him to Newtown to repeat his rant. My question is whether he has the courage to crawl out from behind the safety of his studio and microphone and repeat his words in front of victims of gun violence, Green wrote to the Star Tribune. Would he have the courage to look people in the eye, tell them to deal with their tragedy, tell them that his liberty is more important than their loss, and tell them to go to hell? So far, Davis has declined the all-expense paid trip. It is no surprise that he has not responded to my offer, Greene wrote.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/radio-host-tells-newtown-families-hell-article-1.1324977#ixzz2cNVgPrBg

Sandy Hook resident offers to fly Bob Davis to Newtown so he can repeat "go to hell" remark [UPDATE]
By Aaron Rupar Mon., Apr. 22 2013 at 5:25 AM

It's all fun and laughs until somebody asks you to put your money where your mouth is. On the April 12 installment of AM 1130's Davis & Emmer show, Bob Davis said he'd stand in front of people affected by the Sandy Hook massacre who are now gun control advocates and tell them, "go to hell." SEE ALSO: Atomic Data pulls support from Davis & Emmer show following Davis's Newtown remarks Davis initially refused to apologize (see update below) for that extremely callous remark, so one Sandy Hook resident wants to see if he's really willing to walk the walk. He's contacted Davis and offered to pay to fly him out to Connecticut so he can actually tell families affected by Newtown to go to hell to their faces. You'll be surprised to learn that Davis hasn't responded. From a Star Tribune op-ed written by Sandy Hook resident Brad Greene and published yesterday: I find Davis' comments insensitive and in extremely poor taste, but acknowledge that he is entitled to express his opinion. My question is whether he has the courage to crawl out from behind the safety of his studio and microphone and repeat his words in front of victims of gun violence. Would he have the courage to look people in the eye, tell them to deal with their tragedy, tell them that his liberty is more important than their loss, and tell them to go to hell? Recently, I sent Davis an e-mail offering to pay his travel expenses to Newtown to stand in front of people and repeat the words he said on the radio. It is no surprise that he has not responded to my offer.

At a time when so many people across the country are joining to support one another in times of tragedy, it is disgraceful that Davis would use his platform in such a divisive manner. I feel strongly that words matter and that Davis' comments are an embarrassment to the good city of Minneapolis. I hope people there will tune him out and let his station and sponsors know that there is no place for his brand of vitriolic discourse. It should also be noted that a woman living in the United Kingdom has created a change.org petition demanding that Davis apologize, meaning his comment has officially outraged people throughout the world. :::: UPDATE :::: It has been brought to our attention that Davis finally apologized for his Newtown remark late last week. On his show, Davis characterized his remark as an "inappropriate comment" and said he "did not mean to criticize the families of the victims... I want to offer my most sincere and total apology to all the families for any further pain those words may have caused." The Star Tribune reports that AM 1130 officials won't say whether Davis was disciplined.