The smoke got thicker Monday in the debate over open carry legislation, with the Florida Sheriffs Association blasting the media and its critics.

FSA spokesman Bob Gaultieri, the Pinellas County Sherriff, pushed back at his pro-gun critics he says are distorting comments attributed to him in a recent news story.

The critics accused Gaultieri of threatening to shoot gun owners who openly carry their weapons, and called for his resignation.

Gaultieri says he was misquoted and his comments were taken out of context. Gaultieri says he was merely describing the challenges police would have distinguishing a law abiding gun owner from an armed assailant.

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