Spencer Pratt Reveals He Became a Republican After Being Told to Get a Gun to ‘Protect’ His Family

Spencer Pratt is sharing why he’s a registered Republican amid his bid to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.

In an interview with CNN’s Elex Michaelson, which aired on Thursday, May 21, the former reality TV star, 42, cited gun ownership as the reason he became a Republican, as he wanted to protect his family. Pratt wed Heidi Montag in 2008, and the couple shares sons Gunner, 8, and Ryker, 3.

“When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. I had so much security and police. And what did they tell me to do? Get a gun,” he shared. “This is real. I know people don’t like guns, but L.A. was dangerous if you’re hated.”

“So, I got a gun. My wife got a gun. And then we needed CCWs [Carrying a Concealed Weapon]. The only people that supported a CCW was the Republican [Party],” he explained. “That was what I aligned with my safety, my personal safety, my family’s safety.”

The Hills alum explained he didn’t just go and pick up a gun, but rather he trained and went “through the proper steps.”

However, Pratt noted, “I’m also going to be the mayor that puts LAPD in front of every school to make schools safe from guns.”

“Obviously, I know people don’t like guns, and we need to make everything, especially schools, safe, but that is where I connect to,” he admitted. “Once you feel fear, and it’s real, you want to protect your family.”

As far as the mayoral race goes, it’s nonpartisan, but in the interview, Pratt insisted, “Everyone that supports me is a Democrat. Period.”

“Democrats do not want naked drug addicts in front of their kids at the park in school,” he stated. “I care about all of Los Angeles. I care about people’s safety. And the people in charge right now, no matter what party they claim to be, do not care about people’s safety.”

Pratt’s biggest challengers in the race are incumbent mayor Karen Bass, who is a registered Democrat, as well as Nithya Raman, also a Democrat.