GOP State Rep in Missouri Tweets 'Looters Deserve to Be Shot'

A Republican Missouri state representative is receiving criticism after he tweeted Friday "Looters deserve to be shot. . . . But not by the government."

The social media post followed violent protests ravaging cities around the country in response to the death of a black man named George Floyd who died while in police custody in Minneapolis.

"Looters deserve to be shot. But not by government. #2A" GOP state Rep. Tony Lovasco wrote Friday afternoon, in reference to the Second Amendment.

Twitter has removed the tweet for violating the company's policy on violent content.

Lovasco sent the tweet after President Donald Trump tweeted: "When the looting starts, the shooting starts.

Twitter to also flagged that presidential tweet for "glorifying violence."

Lovasco clarified his statements in a subsequent tweet:

"1) Trump was wrong to threaten looters with being shot. 2) If you loot & a property owner shoots you*, I have no sympathy. 3) I'm not telling anyone to shoot anybody, just saying what I think people deserve."

• California Protesters Knock Officer Unconscious, Shut Down Highway 101
• Floyd Autopsy Doesn't Support Strangulation as Cause of Death