A Republican member of Congress takes to Twitter to suggest that the U.S. government could use nuclear weapons against abortion advocates, should they actively resist pro-life legislation. This has never happened, but consider the response such a comment would incite from Democrats, the media and so-called pro-choice activists. Would a tweet like that not, rightly, be considered incredibly irresponsible, coming from an elected official?
Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California suggested, in a November 16 tweet, that the government might, indeed, use nuclear weapons against 2nd Amendment supporters who refuse to give up their weapons.
For the sake of clarity, it is only right to put his tweet in context: Like most of his Democratic colleagues, Swalwell wants to ban so-called “assault weapons” and has, in the past, suggested a mandatory buy-back program to take such weapons – more accurately known as semi-automatic rifles – out of the hands of civilians.
Dreams of Dictatorship
Such a program amounts to nothing less than gun confiscation. The fact that gun-owners would receive some small amount of compensation does not alter that fact. Swalwell has made it very clear that a program of this kind would be enforced by law. In a USA Today op-ed from March 2018, the congressman suggested that the government should “go after” those who refused to comply with the program and “criminally prosecute any who choose to defy it …”
To be clear: Eric Swalwell dreams of a progressive dictatorship. He wants to deprive law-abiding Americans of their 2nd Amendment rights and he is completely willing to see the federal government institute a measure that might well lead to bloodshed, in order to achieve that end. Making this statement about the Democrat’s intention is neither hyperbole nor fearmongering. Swalwell’s tweets prove that he would not stop short of using military force against gun-owners.
As reported by Fox News, a gun-rights advocate challenged the prospective 2020 presidential candidate over his proposed weapons ban on Twitter: “So basically @RepSwalwell wants a war. Because that’s what you would get. You’re outta your f—— mind if you think I’ll give up my rights and give the [government] all the power.” Swalwell responded that it would be “a short war” because “the government has nukes.”
And it would be a short war my friend. The government has nukes. Too many of them. But they’re legit. I’m sure if we talked we could find common ground to protect our families and communities.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018
Disturbing Message
Following a backlash, the representative attempted to play down his remark. Referring to the Twitter user who called him out, Swalwell wrote: “I sarcastically point out USA isn’t losing to his assault weapon (it’s not the 18th Century).”
America’s gun debate in one thread.
1) I propose a buy-back of assault weapons
2) Gun owner says he’ll go to war with USA if that happens
3) I sarcastically point out USA isn’t losing to his assault weapon (it’s not the 18th Century)
4) I’m called a tyrant
5) 0 progress
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018
This one sentence, when analyzed, offers a disturbing peek inside the dangerous mind of Rep. Swalwell. While we can, hopefully, assume the congressman wouldn’t really think the federal government should use nuclear weapons against its own citizens, this elected official is certainly implying that military action against gun-owners is on the table. His message is very clear; the government has a more powerful arsenal at its disposal, should armed 2nd Amendment defenders refuse to hand over their weapons.
It is also interesting to note that Swalwell says “… USA isn’t losing to his assault weapon.” What does he mean, here? That the fight is between the USA and gun-owners? The obvious suggestion – taking nothing out of context – is that Swalwell sees gun-rights defenders as the enemy. He draws a distinction between the USA, on one side, and 2nd Amendment supporters on the other.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”24″]The left no longer sees their political opponents as fellow Americans.[/perfectpullquote]
Aside from the Democrat’s poor attempt at sarcasm, there is a far more troubling truth to be drawn from his comments. The left no longer sees their political opponents as fellow Americans. To Swalwell and his supporters, conservatives and libertarians – due to their belief that government power should not be used to restrict individual rights – are enemies of the state, to be crushed by force of arms if necessary.
America’s gun-owning civilian population – as a whole – possesses more guns than the Pentagon, even if the U.S. military allowed itself to be deployed against them, which it would not.
Swalwell himself would be marched out of his office in handcuffs before American soldiers were ever dispatched to disarm American citizens, but the lesson here should not be overlooked: The left will go to any extreme imaginable to achieve its political, economic, and cultural aims.
