Ocasio-Cortez wastes no time politicizing Poway synagogue shooting — and it backfires immediately

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was sharply rebuked Saturday for quickly politicizing the tragic shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue in California, which resulted in one death and three wounded.

What did she do?

Just hours after the shooting, Ocasio-Cortez used the shooting to push for HR 8, gun control legislation passed by the Democrat-controlled House in February. The Republican-controlled Senate has not voted on the legislation.

"We have a responsibility to love + protect our neighbors. The longer the Senate delays holding a vote on #HR8, the more we put Americans at risk," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter after saying the shooting left her "heartbroken."

Heartbroken to hear of the San Diego synagogue shooting, particularly so on this final day of Passover.

We have a responsibility to love + protect our neighbors.

The longer the Senate delays holding a vote on #HR8, the more we put Americans at risk.https://t.co/ef9FURMFQ5
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 27, 2019

The legislation Ocasio-Cortez referred to would essentially outlaw handgun ownership for Americans aged 18-20, as well as impose strict legal restrictions for the temporary or permanent transfer of handguns.

The legislation would also expand federal background check requirements for all firearm transactions, including private transfers.

Reason explains:

HR8 requires that loans, gifts, and sales of firearms be processed by a gun store. The same fees, paperwork, and permanent record-keeping apply as to buying a new gun from the store. If you loan a gun to a friend without going to the gun store, the penalty is the same as for knowingly selling a gun to a convicted violent felon. Likewise, when the friend returns the gun, another trip to the gun store is necessary, upon pain of felony.

A clever trick in HR8 effectively bans handguns for persons 18-to20.

However, it's not clear how HR8 would have prevented Saturday's tragedy. In fact, police say the perpetrator used a legally purchased AR-15 rifle — not a handgun.

What was the reaction?

The New York Democrat was harshly criticized for quickly politicizing the tragedy, which came on the final day of Passover.