Missed handshake with gun control advocate during Kavanaugh hearing debated (VIDEOS)

The father of a slain Parkland student said the Supreme Court nominee refused to shake his hand Tuesday, but the White House disputes the characterization.

Fred Guttenberg, who became a vocal gun control advocate after the loss of his daughter in February, was at the first day of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the invite of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. The activist said as the hearing broke for lunch that he approached the federal judge and was rebuffed.

“Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended,” tweeted Guttenberg.”Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg’s dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence.”

Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg’s dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence.

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 4, 2018

The interaction was captured by Andrew Harnik with the AP, among others.

Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, tries to shake hands with @realDonaldTrump‘s Supreme Court nom., Brett Kavanaugh, right, during a lunch break. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) @ap pic.twitter.com/smcCGuLT6X

— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) September 4, 2018

Afterward, Feinstein said she had invited Guttenberg — who is a champion for stronger background checks, red-flag laws, and raising the age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21 — to the hearing because “He knows firsthand how Brett Kavanaugh’s extreme views on guns could lead to more massacres.”

I invited @Fred_Guttenberg to sit in the audience at today’s hearing because the Supreme Court affects the lives of real people. He knows firsthand how Brett Kavanaugh’s extreme views on guns could lead to more massacres. Thank you Fred, for honoring your daughter.

— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) September 4, 2018

White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah disputed Guttenberg’s version of the event, saying “As Judge Kavanaugh left for his lunch break, an unidentified individual approached him. Before the Judge was able to shake his hand, security had intervened.” Shah later posted a video to underline his statement.

NEW VIDEO of hearing room clearly shows security intervened when Judge #Kavanaugh was approached. pic.twitter.com/ZGRRCcWroW

— Raj Shah (@RajShah45) September 4, 2018

The NRATV’s Dana Loesch derided the encounter as a PR stunt and knocked the narrative by those who publicized the event.

Gun control advocates, to include Shannon Watts and March for Our Lives took to social media condemning both the perceived slight and Shah’s explanation.

We’re supposed to believe “Coach K” mentors 6th-grade girls. He’s a “car pool” dad who shows up at every sporting event. But he can’t muster the character to shake the hand of a man whose daughter died in a mass shooting because it would piss of the @NRA? pic.twitter.com/jqjH22htxa

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 4, 2018

Bullshit: https://t.co/2e2dMs5tZX https://t.co/8rFPrlXxvy

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 4, 2018

As for Guttenberg, he said he plans to be at the hearings again on Wednesday.

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