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Politics

Wyoming State Rep. Explains ‘By All Means, Leave’ Remark to Gun Critic– But He’s Not Apologizing

Feb. 28, 2013 9:22am Mytheos Holt

Republican State Rep. Hans Hunt of Wyoming, who gained national notoriety when he told a new resident “by all means, leave” after she complained about his state’s decision to allow concealed carry in schools, says he’s been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support from across the nation.

Until recently, Rep. Hunt was a complete unknown outside of his home state of Wyoming. Then, when he responded bluntly to an angry letter from a constituent with one of the more blunt rejoinders issued by a politician, everything changed.

Now, Hunt has gotten his first taste of national attention, and apparently it’s been positive enough to make him willing to talk to TheBlaze about his stern email, what he wished he had said, and where all this might take him politically.

You can read his thoughts on his new-found fame, and on his political future, below.

TheBlaze: So let’s start with the obvious question regarding your bluntly worded email. We obviously don’t see that from politicians very often these days. Did you write that email yourself, or did one of your staff?

Rep. Hans Hunt: I wrote it myself. We don’t have any staff in Wyoming. We have to do everything ourselves. It was a long day, and I was going through the emails and landed on that, and so I felt I had to respond, so I just hammered that out in a short time, and I just sort of spoke what was coming from my heart in that moment.

TheBlaze: Presumably that wasn’t the first piece of hate mail you’ve received from a constituent. In fact, this woman wasn’t even from your district. Why choose that email to respond to specifically?

Rep. Hans Hunt: It was the end of a long day and I threw that out there. I never really put much thought into it. I just sort of spoke what I was thinking of off the top of my head. I’ve received many emails, but I’ve never really responded in quite that fashion before. I said that and I had no idea that it would bloom into the phenomenon that it’s become.

TheBlaze: Speaking of the phenomenon that it’s become, would you say the reaction has been mostly positive or mostly negative?

Rep. Hans Hunt: It’s been overwhelmingly positive, and I’ve received about 2,400 emails since that story went up on TheBlaze. We have no staff here, we’re responsible for doing our own correspondence, so I’ve just been doing my best to wade through it, but it’s coming from all over the country, and the vast majority of it has been favorable.

Most of it is from outside Wyoming. Most of it seems to be from conservative people in majority liberal areas. I get a lot of email from people in California, New York, Colorado, etc.

TheBlaze: Have you thought of parlaying that positive reaction into further political advancement for your own career?

Rep. Hans Hunt: I certainly appreciate the support that I’ve been getting from people, but honestly it’s been so overwhelming, that I don’t really plan to market myself on this in any way. It’s been an interesting experience and it’s been a positive experience by and large. I’m happy to let it run its course.

TheBlaze: Some people have complained that your email was basically a warning to people with different political views to stay out of Wyoming. Is that accurate?

The way I look at it is by all means, please come to Wyoming, ’cause we’d love to have you. But if you’ve come here with some sort of preconceived notion that it isn’t, then accept what it is, and don’t be offended that it’s not what you thought it was going to be. That’s something I wish I’d clearly articulated in that letter. I wish I’d made that point a little more clearly.

TheBlaze: So you were more pointing out that people should know what they’re getting into before moving there?

I meant that if you’re conservative or liberal, by all means come to Wyoming, but just understand that Wyoming is what it is, and if you plan on living here, then accept that it is what it is, and don’t go out of your way to change it to what it was back home

TheBlaze: You’re the youngest member of the Wyoming legislature. In fact, you got elected while you were still in college, so presumably you knew you wanted to get into this field from the beginning. Why pursue a political career, given the poor reputation politicians seem to increasingly have these days?

Rep. Hans Hunt: I’ve always been interested in politics and current events and what not. Our family has always been politically involved. My mother was county commission back in the 90′s. It’s always held interest to me. I wanted to run for a position at some point, and I had planned on waiting a few years. I was still in school, still completing my Bachelors’ when I put my name in the hat in 2010, but I was planning on waiting a few years, and then a representative who had been in office for 18 years announced that he was retiring and would not run in 2010, so I figured that I might as well give it a shot, so I jumped off the cliff.

TheBlaze: How has the experience been, given your relative youth?

Rep. Hans Hunt: It’s provided additional challenges. By and large, most people are 20 years older than me or more. Other than the handful of us who are under the age of 40. When I was first sworn in at the age of 22, it was an additional challenge, because you sort of have to prove to some of the older members who’ve been there a while that you’re serious about what you’re doing, and you’re serious about taking on the full responsibility of the office and everything that goes with it, but I feel that I held up those standards and people respected that.

TheBlaze: How have your fellow legislators responded to this news story about your email?

Rep. Hans Hunt: The sentiment there is positive. It’s been positive on that end.

TheBlaze: Anyone you look to as a particular political idol or mentor?

Rep. Hans Hunt: Nobody off the top of my head has motivated me to do this, other than members of my family. I certainly look up to many politicians that we’ve had throughout history, but as far as the natural motivation, I can’t really say that anybody of note has been that inspiration, other than my family.

Rev. Audette Fulbright’s Response:

Minister Told by State Rep to ‘By All Means, Leave’ Wyoming Stands Her Ground

Original Story:

‘By All Means, Leave’: The Amazingly Blunt Response One State Rep. Gave a Citizen Who Wrote Him Opposing Concealed Carry in Schools

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (47)

jrcess
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:34am
Would have been better if he had said ” by all means leave, move to California or New York.

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- Bullitt2008
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:57pm
  No, no, no. NOT California. At least not until I move out in three years. We have too many progressive socialist democrat heathens here already. I sent Rep Hans Hunt a thank you email and suggested she move to Chicago where she’ll be protected by the anti-gun laws there.
  
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- JRook
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 4:26pm
  “Presumably that wasn’t the first piece of hate mail” why would an email challenging the absolutely absurd notion of allowing guns either visible or concealed into schools be regarded as hate mail. always nice to see how the blaze injects their bias and agenda into the selection or what to report and how to report it. but there is always a chance they might stumble on a sliver of the truth. you know like he did in fact receive an email and he responded as an individual, not an elected servant of the people.
  
  Report this comment
- Jaycen
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 8:50pm
  Troll alert.
  
  The Blaze is biased, but JRook is completely unbiased.
  
  Well, except when he presumes to dictate to the rest of us what is and isn’t an acceptable response from an elected representative. Wow, the sheer elitist hypocrisy.
  
  Report this comment
MBA
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:20am
Perry1980: I was going to say the same thing. No need to apologize for the truth,. This country is still free to the chagrin of liberals, so stay out of the real west if you can’t handle the truth, the freedom, and the US Constitution.

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- landowner
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:57pm
  We apparently have more of a liberal infection in Texas than I first thought but we’re workin on it!
  
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kolbermannahole2025
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:18am
When I save up enough money I’m moving to Wyoming getting a job and setting up shop for the rest of my life. Need to get out of this shithole MA.

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- THORS_BIG_HAMMER
  Posted on March 23, 2013 at 11:11am
  I’m with you brother! I cant take this Deval patrick guy anymore! We elected “Spreading Bull” to the senate! I am ashamed to live in Ma. once the cradle of liberty! Thank you Rep. Hunt
  
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VigilantGuardShark
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:08am
Never apologize for telling the truth or making a stand against intrisically wrong minded (some might say evil) intentions. An old Priest of mine used to say, ‘the road to Hell is paved with good intentions’ , boy is that ever true.

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- Marine 1
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:16am
  Never apologize to the liberal crowd. They have brain damage.
  
  Report this comment
love the kids
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:51am
I remember seeing a story on 20/20 about 12 to 15 years ago about how when the survey would come out about the safest small towns in America, (under 100,000 population), they would then have a surge of people moving there usually because their child was getting into trouble and wanted them to be raised in a better environment. But once they moved in, they found out that there wasn’t a cable company there, and they wanted cable TV, so they started complaining. And they did this about many things, there weren’t buses and the kids walked to school, but they didn’t think that there kids should have to walk to school. Do you see where I am going with this, You can never mix 100 degree water and 50 degree water and have an end result of 50 or 100. The sad part is these folks have the results in front of them with the pieces that got them there, but want the same results with different pieces, it just won’t work

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love the kids
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:36am
It’s the same thing over and over again with liberals and progressives. “We moved here because of low crime and good schools”, but then when they get there, they try to change the very things that are a part of why it is the way it is. It is the same with a baseball or soccer team. Parents try their kid out for the team with the best record, but if they make the team, they then complain about something, whatever it is. They just have mental “Blocks” that prevent them from seeing things like that.
The people that are complaining have plenty of other places to move to that already are doing what they would like done. Move if you don’t like it

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4wcowboy
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:17am
I live in his district in WY & am VERY proud of him, so proud I made sure to write a Letter to the Editor of our local newspaper praising him. I am also glad he is not back-peddling. Although RevAudette Fulbright @ Facebook has not been heard from since!

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- Jaycen
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 8:53pm
  Maybe you can explain to JRook above that he can STFU about other peoples’ elected representatives.
  
  Report this comment
BlasberryStrat
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:15am
It’s good to see this man stand up for his State and his principles. 99% of any older career politicans would have crumbled to this one lady, while leaving the others out to dry.

What’s more incredible is that he’s under 25 and a State official, while it seems like other younger people cannot pull themselves away from their “X-Box” for more than five minutes.

There may be hope yet within this Truman Show we live in.

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- joey g
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:30am
  only if repukins like rand paul…ryan…rubio…had this mans courage…
  
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fltdecker
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:12am
ask him to run for a seat in Congress. we need people with his integrity up there…

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JQCitizen
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:58am
This young man’s parents must be SO PROUD of him as their son! I am SO PROUD of him as an example of an AMERICAN POLITICIAN!!!

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Al J Zira
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:56am
Any one here a realtor from Wyoming? People are probably interested.

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Blitz
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:54am
Has anyone interviewed the person that sent the email? Is there a for sale sign in her front yard?

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65Mustang
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:52am
I am proud of this young man. He sent the message that she, and the pompous liberals like her, needed to hear. Stay where you are.

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theBru
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:47am
We can only hope that there are more HONEST politicians on the way to help us out…

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huey6367
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:45am
I like this guy. It came from his heart not like some liberal piece of garbage that they think and think about so as to not offend anyone or ever answer the question.

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Exidor
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:45am
Why the h*ll should he apologize?

The so called “Reverend” should be the one apologizing and moving back where they came from.

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moreteaplease
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:43am
“I meant that if you’re conservative or liberal, by all means come to Wyoming, but just understand that Wyoming is what it is, and if you plan on living here, then accept that it is what it is, and don’t go out of your way to change it to what it was back home”
———————————————–
The entire country should run on this statement.

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:51am
  Airhead women like the one who sent that email make my skin crawl,they move to a another state and want to make it as bad as where they came from. Apparently she wants to spread the misery to normal people.
  
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moreteaplease
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:40am
I sent him a email the other day thanking him for taking the stand that he took and holding firm to it.

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- Al J Zira
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:54am
  Yep! Did the same thing.
  
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MCON29
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:39am
Could use a few like him in Illinois, well, a couple hundred in office to even make a dent.

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starman70
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:39am
A TRUE AMERICAN!!!! A man of conviction!!! A man who tells it like it is and not afraid to step on someone’s toes.

IT’S HIGH TIME TO REMOVE ALL THE WISHY – WASHY LIBERALS IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE AND ELECT TRUE AMERICANS LIKE REP. HUNT!

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perry1980
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:38am
There is no need to apologize for the Truth!

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Cavallo
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:37am
Being that the fascists simply won’t drop dead, I would prefer them to leave as well. Go live in your utopias of New York, Michigan, Illinois, and California. Leave the rest of us alone.

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FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:36am
He’s not apologizing? WHY WOULD HE?!

These so-called progressives are a cancer on this nation and they’re eating our culture on an exponential scale. Glad to see someone in a position of authority trying to stop it. Wish we had thousands more.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:33am
He shouldn’t apologize either because he has no reason to,the lady should apologize for sending an idiotic email. Mr.Hunt isn’t your typical candy@ss politician afraid of their own shadow and afraid of offending someone every time he speaks.

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wilbstal
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 9:31am
we need hundreds like him in DC and every state

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