Tuesday, March 15th 2011, 7:58 AM
A Republican legislator in Kansas is taking major heat after suggesting that illegal immigrants be shot like wild hogs by gunmen in helicopters.
State Rep. Virgil Peck made the explosive remarks Monday during a debate on how best to control 500 feral swine in Kansas.
"Looks like to me, if shooting these immigrating feral hogs works, maybe we have found a (solution) to our illegal immigration problem," he said, according to The Wichita Eagle.
GOP Rep. Marc Rhoades condemned the remarks during the discussion by the state's House Appropriations Committee.
"I know that the preface to your question was an attempt at humor, but I would ask that in the future you refrain from comments that could be deemed inappropriate," said Rhoades, the committee chairman.
Peck was unapologetic.
"I was just speaking like a southeast Kansas person," he told the Lawrence Journal World, adding that his constituents are upset with the state and federal response to illegal immigration.
Peck, who has served since 2005, said he expects no further controversy over his remarks.
"I think it's over," he said.
But Somos Republicans, a national Hispanic GOP group, slammed Peck's comments and demanded an apology.
"If Representative Virgil Peck does not apologize for his extremist comments, he will wind up permanently on our unfriendly to Hispanics list for the rest of his life, and his Kansas legend will be one of bigotry," the group said in a statement. "We are horrified by his remarks."
Virgil Peck should resign, and at a minimum should NOT be on any committee for Public Safety.
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