In the end, it’s not that big a story; ricochets, metal fragments, and hot brass occur when you’re using a firearm. And thankfully, the reporter’s injuries were minor.
A KSHB 41 News reporter was hit by a metal fragment Tuesday afternoon while covering a campaign event for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce.
Reporter Ryan Gamboa was covering the event at a private residence in Holt, Missouri — about 40 miles northeast of Kansas City — Tuesday afternoon when he was struck in the arm. It was unclear if he was struck by a bullet ricochet or another type of metal fragment.
Kunce was firing an AR-15-style weapon at the time that the reporter was struck.
Kunce was among those who provided treatment to Gamboa, wrapping a bandage around his arm.
Gamboa went to be checked out at a nearby hospital after the incident. Gamboa said his injuries were minor and he was released from the hospital.
But if a Republican Senate candidate had fired an AR-15 during a campaign event and accidentally injured a reporter who was taken to the hospital — even just as a precaution — it would be much bigger news, from coast to coast. It would advance a preferred narrative that Republicans are a bunch of gun nuts who are reckless and dangerous when handling firearms. Luckily for Lucas Kunce, he’s a Democrat, running a long-shot bid against Josh Hawley. So to most of the national media, his firearms mishap with a reporter is just a random bad thing that happened, with no broader meaning or implication.
Another point worth noticing: Missouri is so supportive of gun rights that even the Democrat feels the need to shoot an AR-15 at a campaign event.