Congressman tells second-graders about child suicide bombers

Several parents say they are shocked by comments Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) made to second- and third-graders about suicide bombings and nuclear weapons last week.

The congressman was giving a presentation to students at San Tan Charter School about how bills become laws, when he reportedly began talking to the children about Iran, according to CBS 5 Phoenix.

{mosads}“The congressman chose to give an example of the current situation in Iran, and made some inappropriate comments about ‘Do you know what a nuclear weapon is? Do you know that there are schools that train children your age to be suicide bombers?” parent Scott Campbell said.

Campbell said he later had to console his daughter.



“After school my daughter was very concerned and said to me she actually didn’t even know what suicide was and was very afraid,” he said.

A spokesman for the congressman said that staffers had met with concerned parents.

“It was never Congressman Salmon’s intention to offend any parents present, so our office was happy to meet with them and discuss their concerns,” communications director Tristan Daedalus said.

“The Congressman also shared a call with these parents tonight and had a pleasant conversation with them personally,” he added.

The congressman has represented Arizona’s 5th District since 2013 and is considering a primary challenge to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) next year.

–This report was updated on September 1 at 2:23 p.m.