Post-Dispatch: Nieves' "Vile Actions Are Unworthy of a Missouri State Senator"

In today's Post-Dispatch:

Before last November, when Brian Nieves was merely a Missouri state representative from Washington, few people in the state Capitol took him very seriously...

But last November, Mr. Nieves was elected to the state Senate, representing Franklin, Warren and parts of west St. Louis counties. Since then, his antics have grown exponentially, and they've been very public...

After being called out by [retired teacher Tom Smith] and others for his boorish behavior, he turned even more boorish, going on his radio show to call his constituent 'subhuman" and "evil," and mentioning that he would do anything in his Second Amendment-protected power to defend his family.

We get it, Mr. Nieves. You have a gun. Many guns. You are willing to use them.

That's what makes his statement in a letter to the Missourian perhaps the most offensive thing he's done yet. In defending his wild antics, Mr. Nieves compared himself to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat shot Jan. 8 at an event in her home district.

Yes, in one breath Mr. Nieves says there's "only one way" to deal with people like Mr. Smith, and then he compares himself to a member of Congress nearly killed by a person with a gun.

Ms. Giffords' shooting sparked, however briefly, a national discussion about the sort of angry, divisive and threatening language that has overtaken our political discourse. Mr. Nieves has proven, sadly, that he's incapable of any amount of reasonable discussion with people who disagree with him.

His irresponsible, vile actions are unworthy of a Missouri state senator.

Maybe it was funny at first.

Nobody's laughing anymore.