03/27/2014
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Sen. Joshua Miller’s videotaped suggestion to a persistent gun-rights advocate that the advocate perform an anatomically unlikely feat upon himself has gone viral, as they say, and Miller has been bombarded with Internet threats.
The incident, involving Dan Bidondi of Truthradio.com, took place March 18 in the rotunda of the State House and involved a hearing on a gun bill during which, Miller said Tuesday, the police removed Bidondi for being disorderly.
“He was testifying and he wouldn’t stop after being told to stop, and accusing legislators of not understanding the Constitution and so forth,” the Cranston Democrat said.
Bidondi posted the video on YouTube Tuesday. The video, narrated by Bidondi, tells the viewers that “gun-grabbin’ Rhode Island state Senator Josh Miller” had been conducting a hearing on “several unconstitutional, draconian gun bills.”
The video shows Miller and others chatting at a news conference in the rotunda. Bidondi is seen approaching Miller with a microphone and declaring, “The Second Amendment shall not be infringed, you people need to understand that.”
It was then that Miller, smiling broadly, offered his thoughts as to what Bidondi should do, to which Bidondi responded, “Good comment, sir. Thank you.”
The YouTube video has been “looped,” so that Miller is seen repeating his advice several times.
Miller on Tuesday issued a public apology.
“At the end of a press conference in which I participated, an individual representing a website notorious for conspiracy theories started berating members of the coalition and intimidating elderly veterans, members of the clergy and victims of violence,” Miller said.
“It quickly became a highly charged atmosphere, which required the presence of the Capitol Police. The individual in question is not new to the State House and is known for his aggressive and intimidating manner. He also was interrupting legitimate members of the media who were attempting to conduct interviews.
“After watching him antagonize an elderly veteran, he swung his camera my way, which produced a very human and guttural reaction. I respect both the Second Amendment and the First Amendment. It is important to note that the individual in question was physically removed from a committee room by the Capitol Police later that evening.
“Regardless of the emotions and atmosphere of the moment, it does not justify the language I used that day. Out of respect for the decorum of the State House and the constituents I represent, I offer my apologies.”
Miller described the bills being considered as “sensible gun legislation that would ban the sale of assault weapons, ban the sale of high-capacity magazines, ban weapons on school grounds and deny firearm access to individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors.”
In a Providence Journal interview Tuesday, Miller said, “The same guy got kicked out of a governors’ conference last year. Last year he confronted onlookers at a press conference on the Boston Marathon about his conspiracy theories on the bombings. He’s not a confirmed member of the press. Just because you have a camera and a microphone doesn’t make you an accredited member of the press.”
Reached Tuesday night, Bidondi complained that Miller was “calling me a conspiracy theorist instead of getting to the point of the constitutional issue here.”
Miller said he has received “thousands” of threats as a result of the video.
Bidondi at one point described Miller as “foul-mouthed,” but the senator said that wasn’t true. “I’ve just never had a public opportunity to say something like that,” he said.
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