Boy, California’s Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom really stepped in it this time, and The Pink Pistols are firing back.

Last week, the Pink Pistols posted a meme attacking Newsom’s proposed anti-gun legislation in California. The graphic, featuring a quote from member Nicki Stallard reads, “If Gavin Newsom gets this passed, how will transgender women like me be able to protect ourselves?”

The attack on Newsom’s “Safety for All” initiative apparently hit a nerve, but what Newsom did next has gun owners around the country fired up and firing back.

Newsom, who apparently isn’t familiar with the Pistols (which in my opinion is deplorable enough), hijacked the post in an effort to divert attention from his anti-gun legislation and distorted it into an ignorant and misaligned attack against the NRA:

“The NRA group in California is using the Trans community to fight our common sense gun safety initiative. Using the Trans community to fight their battle of lies is arguably one of the most disgusting things they’ve ever done.”

With over 45 Pink Pistols chapters nationwide, and more are starting up every day, The Pink Pistols have been and remain “dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community. We no longer believe it is the right of those who hate and fear gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or polyamorous persons to use us as targets for their rage. Self-defense is our RIGHT.”

“What Gavin Newsom said about Nicki is not only laughable, it is ignorant and insulting,” Pink Pistols first speaker Gwen Patton told Guns.com on Monday. “Nicki Stallard has been one of the Pink Pistols’ strongest voices in California for many years. Since the accident that reduced my ability to travel, she has been my eyes, ears, and voice at public gatherings and conventions, to let people know that there are LGBT people who support the Second Amendment and lawfully carry firearms for self-defense.”

“I respectfully suggest that Gavin Newsom download and read the Pink Pistols Utility Manual from our website, and would very much appreciate it if he would issue an apology to Nicki Stallard and the rest of the Pink Pistols for his ignorant and unfounded statements,” Ms. Patton concluded.

Perhaps before Mr. Newsom picks another group as an unwilling shill for his backward anti-gun legislation, he should heed The Pink Pistols tagline: “Pick on someone your own caliber.“