Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Wilmington, N.C., on Tuesday, appeared to encourage gun owners to take action if Hillary Clinton is elected president and appoints judges who oppose gun rights.
The mogul said that Clinton "wants to abolish, to essentially abolish the Second Amendment," a charge she has flatly denied. He said that if Clinton becomes president, she could appoint judges who would leave Americans nearly but not completely helpless on this front.
"By the way, and if she gets to pick -- if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks," Trump warned. "Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."
It was not clear whether Trump was inciting gun owners to use their weapons against judges or a sitting president -- or was encouraging some other action.
Trump campaign senior communications adviser Jason Miller released a statement shortly after comment, swatting down the idea that the mogul was suggesting any form of violence.
"It's called the power of unification -- 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power," Miller said in the statement. "And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won't be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump."
Clinton's campaign was also swift to respond to Trump's comments.
"This is simple — what Trump is saying is dangerous," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement. "A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way."
"In no way was he threatening Hillary," said Sarah Smith, a 72-year-old retiree. "Anybody who thinks that is delusional."
Smith said she thought Trump was simply making a comment about the importance of gun rights and the threat posed by judges appointed by the Democratic nominee.
"The Supreme Court is all-important," she said.
The Second Amendment states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
