JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Days after blasting a new state law designed to invalidate certain federal gun laws, former Gov. Eric Greitens changed his tune, voicing support for the Second Amendment Preservation Act.
In comments Greitens made during a radio interview last week, Greitens said the new law "defunded police" and was backed by "career politicians" and "RINOs" (Republicans in Name Only).
"It's important to have leaders who, like, understand what's happening on the front lines," Greitens said.
But then, on Saturday, Greitens tweeted: "I 100% support the Second Amendment Preservation Act. Do-nothing establishment RINO's and lobbyists will never truly stand up for the Second Amendment to protect your gun rights. Don't be fooled."
Why the shift in tone?
Greitens' U.S. Senate campaign on Monday did not respond to a request for comment.
But on Thursday, two days after Greitens' comments were posted, Aaron Dorr, a pro-firearms activist with the Missouri Firearms Coalition, posted a 17-minute video excoriating the ex-governor for his comments.
Dorr was featured in the 2020 NPR podcast called "No Compromise," which explored his and his brothers' large social media following of gun owners and his relationship with Missouri lawmakers.
"He's so hostile, and so aggressive and rude that I'm not going to listen to him," one Republican told a KCUR reporter at the time.
Dorr, in his recent video, called on Greitens to apologize to the main backers of the SAPA bill, which include some of the Legislature's most conservative members.
"In everything that you do, in all the apologies that you make, I want to remind you, and I've said it before now in this video, I want to say it again — watch the tone in your voice," Dorr said.
"Watch the arrogance and the condescension in your mannerisms," he said. "Watch the way you carry yourself as you apologize, because you have come across as the most arrogant, condescending ass that we have seen certainly in this cycle and perhaps in all of the cycles certainly in recent memory in Missouri."
Greitens faces five other well-known Republicans in the August 2022 primary: Attorney General Eric Schmitt, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey, and Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz.
A Remington Research Group poll of likely 2022 GOP primary voters released Saturday by Missouri Scout found Greitens leading the Republican field with 27% support among those polled.
Schmitt logged 24% support while Hartzler came in third, at 16%.
The margin of error in the poll was 3.4%, suggesting a statistical tie between Greitens and Schmitt for first place.
