The quote I’m seeing everywhere includes only the first two sentences in a three-sentence riff:
If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the second amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.
The Guardian includes the third:
But I’ll tell you what, that will be a horrible day.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/09/trump-gun-owners-clinton-judges-second-amendment
With the full quote, it's impossible to explain away the first two sentences as a call to organize to protect the second amendment, as suggested by Susan Collins:
He was suggesting that 2nd Amendment advocates around the country might come together to pressure the Senate.
There's no way to square "country might come together to pressure the Senate" with "will be a horrible day." (Wouldn't successfully organizing to pressure the Senate to block appointment of a pro gun control justice be seen as a wonderful thing by gun rights advocates?)
The third sentence is Trump trying to have it both ways by assuring people that while he recognizes that technically there is a way to prevent Clinton from appointing a gun-unfriendly justice, he recognizes how horrible that outcome would be, making him technically not in favor of assassination. Of course, once it’s is on the table, if only hypothetically, it's up to the listener to decide which would be worse: a national tragedy or loss of gun rights. We know that fanatical second amendmenters see it as a life or death, kill or be killed, issue, so we can imagine wheels turning in heads, if they weren’t already.
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2016 · 8:09:28 AM +00:00
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ultramarina
Marnie1 has pointed out that the complete third sentence is “But I tell you what, that will be a horrible day, if Hillary gets to put her judges in, right now we're tied.” Which does indeed change the interpretation. Thanks for your comment, Marnie1.