NASHVILLE - State Rep. Stacy Campfield, R-Knoxville, a candidate for state Senate, is drawing fire for appearing to make light of allegations that Republican 4th Congressional District nominee Scott DesJarlais once thought of suicide.

In a television ad, DesJarlais' opponent, U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., raises charges that DesJarlais' then-wife, Susan DesJarlais, made in the couple's 2001 divorce. The filing accused DesJarlais of pulling the trigger on an unloaded gun "outside the plaintiff's locked bedroom door" ... "holding a gun in his mouth for three hours, an incident of physical intimidation at the hospital; and previous threatening behavior ... i.e. shoving, tripping, pushing down, etc."

DesJarlais' campaign has attacked the assertions and the ad.

In a posting today on his blog, Campfield wrote, "If Lincoln Davis was my US rep. I would probably have a gun in my mouth as well!"

"This is another irresponsible quip from a guy who seems to enjoy making a fool of himself," Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Keith Talley said. "A statement like that indicates to me that Mr. Campfield does not appreciate the seriousness of domestic violence. He has no business in the General Assembly, and I hope Knoxville voters will show him the door on Nov. 2."

Neither the Davis nor the DesJarlais campaign had an immediate comment.