Republican hit with backlash over call for 'hangings': 'Itching to bring back lynching'

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) was accused of wanting to "bring back lynching" after he called to legalize public hangings as a form of capital punishment.

Burchett made the remarks on Friday after the Department of Justice announced that it was expanding execution methods to include firing squads.

"These steps are critical to deterring the most barbaric crimes, delivering justice for victims, and providing long-overdue closure to surviving loved ones," the DOJ explained in a press release.

"Now do hanging," Burchett wrote on X.

Burchett's remarks were met with criticism and confusion.

"Who is it you wanna hang, Timmy? You guys aren't doing anything about the pedophiles and the insider trading happening in Trump's orbit, but you have people to hang? Who?" Merry Wormwood asked.

Antonio Maldonado argued that Burchett should resign for his "horrible" take on the death penalty.

"But you're probably itching to bring back lynching aren't you," Maldonado said.

"A f'n hillbilly would say that but you forgot the part 'preferably black people,'" one commenter noted.

"Yea, because these are pressing matters to Americans," another person complained. "Why are boomers obsessed with violence? This will be used against us, I'm sure, but when did the majority of you care. Sigh."

"Let's bring back slavery while we're at it!" a critical response read.

"Always the Christians with the bloodlust," a user named Warren pointed out.