(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that "the Second Amendment people" could stop Hillary Clinton from enacting liberal policies that would be upheld by the Supreme Court justices she would nominate if elected president.
The comment came during a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, as Trump reiterated his claim that Clinton sought to abolish the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms.
"Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment," Trump told his audience. "By the way, and if she gets to pick—if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know. But I'll tell you what—that will be a horrible day."
While Clinton has proposed expanding background checks for those who purchase firearms, as well as a ban on semi-automatic weapon sales, she does not advocate repealing the Second Amendment.
Trump's phrasing drew a swift condemnation from the Clinton campaign.
"This is simple—what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement that was also posted to Clinton's official Twitter account.
A super-PAC working to elect Clinton also responded minutes after Trump's remark.
"This is not OK," said Justin Barasky, spokesman for Priorities USA, in an e-mailed statement.
Trump's campaign, perhaps sensing that a controversy was brewing, also released a statement.
“It's called the power of unification – 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power. And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won't be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump,” Trump Senior Communications Advisor Jason Miller said in a press release.
To contact the author of this story: David Knowles in San Francisco at dknowles9@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mike Nizza at mnizza3@bloomberg.net.
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