Too soon, dude, too soon.

After pointing a fake rifle at the crowd in San Bernardino, California on Sunday night, Marilyn Manson defended his actions by saying the stunt critiqued the way assault weapon violence has been “normalized” [sic] in our society.

If anyone is going to get away with such a stunt, though, it’s Manson.

It all went down while Manson was performing ‘We Know Where You Fucking Live’ at heavy music festival Knotfest Meets Ozzfest.

Let’s ear from RollingStone:

Manson – confined to a wheelchair due to his onstage accident – used a microphone fashioned to the scope of the prop assault rifle so that when he sang the track, the gun was held as if it was about to be fired, TMZ reported Monday.

Check out the video on TMZ here.

When asked to elaborate about the (in)appropriate gesture, Manson said:

“In an era where mass shootings have become a nearly daily occurrence this was an act of theater in an attempt to make a statement about how easily accessible semi-automatic weapons are and how seeing them has become normalized.”

“My performance was not meant to be disrespectful or show any insensitivity. The prop microphone I used on stage was handed to me with the approval of a police officer.”

The concert took place soon after the Texas church killing that left 26 people dead. San Bernardino, the show’s setting, was also victim to a terror attack in 2015 where 15 people were killed at a Christmas party. Both of these attacks were carried out by an assault rifle – similar to Manson’s prop on the night.

Manson continued:

“My art has always been a reaction to popular culture and my way to make people think about the horrible things that happen in this world.

My empathy goes out to anyone who has been affected by the irresponsible and reprehensible misuse of REAL guns.”

You still scare me, but your message is relevant. Let’s get them guns off the streets.

Oh, and in case you missed it, here’s why Manson’s in a wheelchair.

[source:rollingstone&tmz]