WASHINGTON — A Republican New Hampshire state representative who touted her handiness with a gun and said labor unions “better not F#%k” with her is insisting that she never meant to advocate violence toward anyone. State Rep. Lynne Blankenbeker (R-Concord) is a nurse in the Navy Reserves and is currently at Fort Dix, N.J., training with the U.S. Army. On Thursday, she wrote an email to her colleagues in the New Hampshire House and updated them on her training, explaining that the Army was “short staffed,” which is why she was at Fort Dix. In her message, she joked about moderate Republicans (RINO — Republican In Name Only) and even talked about using a .50 caliber gun to scare off labor unions. From her email, obtained by The Huffington Post and also posted by Politico’s Ben Smith: I am a truck commander on a hum vee for convoys. I had to learn how to drive both day and at night with night vision goggles. My vehicle has a rhino (no, not a RINO) on it to trip IEDs before my vehicle reaches it. Today I got to be the gunner which was fun. The .50cal is quite a gun! I was never ascared of the unions but they better not F#%k with me again!!! Just saying. I have mastered hand to hand combat as well. I’m headed out of here August 5th. Reports from Kandahar are extremely grim. Tons of casualties ( soldiers, locals, kids). We work 24/7. No one gets a day off but with no alcohol or place to go I guess that’s ok. In an email to The Huffington Post, Blankenbeker insisted that she didn’t mean to advocate violence toward anyone. “I am not a violent or retaliatory person at all,” she wrote Thursday evening. “That e mail was for my state representative Peers only. I was just using a metaphor to show that the Army training is preparing us for the rigors of battle in the war zone.” She noted that she had been the target of political campaigns by unions such as the State Employees Association of New Hampshire. “I was merely metaphorically explaining how tough the Army training has been. Making me tough enough to withstand even the toughest attacks,” she added in a follow-up message. In May, Blankenbeker attracted attention for voicing skepticism that U.S. forces had killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Full email below: From: Blankenbeker, Lynne Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 3:56 PM To: Vaillancourt, Steve Cc: ~All Representatives Subject: News from the war (almost) Hi everyone! Thought I’d give you an update from the field. I’m at Fort Dix, NJ training with the Army. Seems they are short staffed which is why I am here. I am a truck commander on a hum vee for convoys. I had to learn how to drive both day and at night with night vision goggles. My vehicle has a rhino (no, not a RINO) on it to trip IEDs before my vehicle reaches it. Today I got to be the gunner which was fun. The .50cal is quite a gun! I was never ascared of the unions but they better not F#%k with me again!!! Just saying. I have mastered hand to hand combat as well. I’m headed out of here August 5th. Reports from Kandahar are extremely grim. Tons of casualties ( soldiers, locals, kids). We work 24/7. No one gets a day off but with no alcohol or place to go I guess that’s ok. It’s really hot here(103 today) and humid which makes the full battle rattle quite uncomfortable. I am not sure how our fighting forces does it everyday… I will only be in it a few days a week, when I’m on co oyster in theater or flying med-evacuation. Hope u are all enjoying your summer. I am…. Keeping focused on the mission and our flag. Love, Lynne
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