By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

State Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) found herself in hot water this week after asking a graphically violent rhetorical question on the PA House floor.

“If the gentleman from Butler County stood yelling, knowing that he’s a gun-toter, and I felt threatened, would I be protected under court law if I blew his brains out?” Davidson asked of State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler).

“In the future, I may choose different language to illustrate how serious and final it is to take a person’s life,” said Davidson in a statement.

Stopping short of an apology, Davidson says she used graphic language because of her deeply personal background with gun violence.

Her brother was shot by a robber at point-blank range.

“I did not explain to my House colleagues another reason why I used the language I did. I am personally acquainted with the tragic results of violence. My brother was murdered. Someone broke into his home to rob him. He didn’t have any money on him, and the criminal shot him in the chest at point-blank range. I sat in the courtroom during the trial, heard graphic descriptions of what that did to him, and saw graphic photos of his wounds. I would not wish that on anyone – not another member of the House, not anyone.”

“In one of my hypothetical questions, I used graphic language to illustrate the tragic results of violence. Taking a person’s life is a horrific and disturbing thing that cannot be undone. I used this strong language to urge my colleagues to pause before creating a more violent society.”

You can read Davidson’s statement in its entirety here.