Missouri Democrat Senate candidate Lucas Kunce’s campaign event took a dramatic turn when a television reporter was injured by an apparent bullet fragment while Kunce was firing an AR-15.

U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce speaks at Springfield’s second annual Earth Day Music and Sustainability Festival, at Jordan Valley Ice Park on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Kunce was the festival’s keynote speaker.
04.22.23 The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Earth Day GC

The incident occurred at a rural location north of Kansas City, as reported by The Kansas City Star.

Kunce was the only person shooting at the time, and the reporter, Ryan Gamboa of KSHB-TV, sustained a minor wound while observing the event.

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After the injury, Kunce quickly moved to assist Gamboa by bandaging the wound on the spot.

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The situation unfolded with the election just two weeks away, as Kunce has been emphasizing his military background and featuring firearms prominently in his campaign ads.

Kunce, a Marine veteran, has made his military service a central theme of his bid to unseat incumbent Senator Josh Hawley, while also supporting certain gun control measures, such as raising the age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, according to OnTheIssues.org.

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Kunce called it a ‘great day at the range,’ even though he injured a reporter.

Following the incident, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) took to social media, mocking Kunce’s shooting skills. Hawley posted on X (formerly Twitter), “My grandma is a better shot than Lucas Kunce,” shortly after news of Gamboa’s injury became public.

Kunce’s campaign has been heavily focused on his military service and his proficiency with firearms, a theme meant to appeal to a broad voter base in Missouri.

However, the incident involving the reporter has raised questions and sparked criticism online. After Gamboa was reportedly struck by a possible bullet fragment, social media users were quick to criticize Kunce’s handling of the situation.

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One user on X said, “You could’ve killed somebody today, you freaking moron. What kind of a brain-dead idiot shoots steel inside 10 yards with a rifle?”

Valentina Gomez, referencing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, added, “Ask your boy Tim Walz for a tampon to stop the bleed.”

The race has grown increasingly competitive as Kunce seeks to highlight his background as a Marine veteran while advocating for certain gun control measures, such as raising the minimum age for gun purchases.

His campaign has tried to strike a balance between promoting Second Amendment rights and supporting some gun safety regulations.

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As the election nears, the incident may become a talking point as both sides continue to battle for votes in what has been a closely-watched Senate race in Missouri.

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