Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell says the US government would use nukes against gun owners in case of a revolt.

Eric Swalwell. Washington Times/AP.

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic Congressman from California, said that a revolt in favor of gun rights would be put down with nuclear weapons. The Washington Times. Joe Biggs, an e-celeb and pundit tweeted at Swalwell that he wanted a war as gun confiscation would result in one. Swalwell replied that the war would be short due to the use of nuclear weapons. Swalwell's comments caused a firestorm on Twitter. 

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

My Comment:
Before I say anything else I have to say that Twitter is probably one of the most dangerous things out there. People say such stupid things that I can't believe people use it the way Eric Swalwell does. All I do on Twitter is post links to my blogs, make short comments and VERY occasionally, have a conversation with one of my followers. Doing anything else on there is a great way to get into this kind of trouble. And though Swalwell is trying to back down from what he said, people are going to remember he said this for a very long time.

As for what Swalwell said, it's pretty much one of the worst things anyone has said in terms of gun control. Very few gun control advocates would be willing to follow through with their plans if they knew that violence was going to be the result. I also think that is a major reason why gun control hasn't passed lately outside of the state level as they know a national gun control push that involved a confiscation scheme, which is what Swalwell is advocating, would end with a lot of people on both sides dead.

I do remember a few people saying during the Bundy Ranch standoff that the protesters there should have been bombed. Those people were at the extreme fringe and were largely ignored by the mainstream left. There is an undercurrent of violence on the left but even the most violent among them understand that threatening war is a bad idea. A war over any issue would destroy the country and even the winning side would rule over a country that would be shadow of what it was before.

But Swalwell has gone far beyond that. He actually thinks that the government should deploy nuclear weapons if there is some kind of revolt. That is, quite frankly, insane. Just on morality alone it's an act of shear depravity unmatched in human history. Using a nuclear weapon on your own people is about as evil as you can get. Murdering the people you swore to protect and serve with nuclear hellfire is just beyond the pale, even if they are revolting against your authority.

And using nukes on your own people? I doubt that the military would go along with it, even if they did go along with an insane scheme to confiscate guns. Using nukes on civilians would not only kill any rebels it would kill millions of innocent people and government soldiers as well. The government would have no legitimacy at all and would be overthrown, either by their own people or by foreign governments horrified by what they did.

Using nukes against a rebellion is just stupid as well. There is no point in ruling a country that has been reduced to ashes. And it wouldn't even end the war! Most gun owners live in rural areas and are spread across the country so unless you nuke the entire country there will be people left over to fight you. And seeing their country men reduced to ash imprints on the sidewalk and dying from radiation burns would be a hell of a motivation.

I am hoping that this was just a case of Swalwell putting his foot into his mouth so far that he's past his knee and he doesn't actually believe this. If not though, then he should be removed from office. Anyone who thinks it's ok for the government to use nukes on its own people, no matter the circumstances, should be forced to resign.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening. Outside of social media and conservative media, this story is getting zero coverage. And even if it was getting major coverage I doubt the Democratic Party would do anything. Though they might not agree with nuking innocent civilians fighting for their civil rights, they do think that gun control is desirable and don't really care anymore if people get hurt if it means getting what they want...