Elliot Rodger: Joe the Plumber tells parents of victims 'your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights'

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher has penned an open letter to parents defending gun rights after Rodger killed six people in Isla Vista

The man who became known as 'Joe the Plumber' during the 2008 US presidential campaign has told the parents of victims killed by British-born gunman Elliot Rodger: “your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights” as they held a memorial service on Tuesday.

Richard Michael-Martinez, the father of Christopher, who was shot by British-born gunman Elliot Rodger, pleaded with politicians to take action on gun control as he paid tribute to his son on a day of mourning at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).

He was met with a standing ovation as he led the crowd in chants of "not one more" and encouraged people to send postcards bearing the same words to every politician they could think of and create "not one more" hashtags on social media.

But Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a man who became the "everyman" mascot of John McCain's Republican bid for the White House four years ago, has written a coarse open letter directly addressed to relatives of the victims who were shot where he claimed pro-gun control activists "don't care about your family or your dead children at all".

“As harsh as this sounds — your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights,” Mr Wurzelbacher, 40, of Holland, Ohio, wrote in the letter posted on the conservative site BarbWire.com.

Rodger, 22, killed six people in Isla Vista, California, in a knife and gun rampage on Friday after emailing a lengthy manifesto detailing his plans to some 30 people including his mother, father and former teachers.

When police found Rodger dead in his car, they discovered three guns that were legally bought from licensed firearms dealers and were registered in his name.

Mr Wurzelbacher’s letter came after Mr Martinez blamed his son's death on “craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA (National Rifle Association).

The NRA said that it supports the right to own and carry firearms, and that responsible gun owners should not be punished for mass shooting

“They talk about gun rights, what about Chris’s right to live? When will this insanity stop?” Mr Martinez asked two days after his son was shot dead.

Mr Wurzelbacher's letter responds with: "Mr. Martinez and anyone calling for more restrictions on American’s rights need to back off and stop playing into the hands of the folks who merely capitalize on these horrific events for their own political ends.

“We still have the Right to Bear Arms and I intend to continue to speak out for that right, and against those who would restrict it — even in the face of this horrible incident by this sad and insane individual.

"Mr. Martinez and anyone calling for more restrictions on American’s rights need to back off and stop playing into the hands of the folks who merely capitalize on these horrific events for their own political ends."