Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) on Wednesday shared a death threat he received over his gun control advocacy.
“I’m not afraid of this guy,” Swalwell, an outspoken advocate for gun reform, said in a tweet accompanied by audio of the voicemail. “I’m not afraid of the [National Rifle Association]. I’m not afraid. No fear.”
The tweet, which is pinned to the top of Swalwell’s Twitter page, includes audio of an unidentified caller going on a profanity laced rant about Democrats’ efforts to pass legislation toughening rules on gun ownership.
“Eric Swalwell, here’s a little ditty for ya: pop-pop-pop-bop-pop-pop-pop — 30-round clip, you’re all gonna drop,” the unidentified man says. “I don’t give a f— anymore. You motherf—er think you got some new young motherf—ers going to take over and f– the Constitution? F– you.”
{mosads}“You want to go to war motherf—er? We’re going to war,” the man continues. “And you’re gonna be the first motherf—ing casualty. F— you.”
An aide to Swalwell told The Hill the voicemail was received in the congressman’s district office in Castro Valley, Calif., in November. The aide said Capitol Police were notified about the call.
Swalwell has been considering a 2020 bid for the White House for months. The Atlantic reported on Thursday that he will announce his candidacy next week and center his campaign around gun control.
The congressman will announce his plans during an appearance on CBS’s “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” according to the magazine. Swalwell is also planning to host a town hall in Florida next week to address gun control.
Swalwell was a vocal supporter of the House’s recent move to pass legislation that expanded background checks. He said in the video posted on Twitter that Congress must “ban and buy back assault weapons next.”
Updated at 4:23 p.m.