By: Teresa Mull
Rep. Eric Swalwell has ended his 2020 presidential election campaign. The California Democrat’s exit comes days after a Twitter poll he posted regarding guns backfired dramatically.
GPM reported earlier this year that Swalwell said on Jake Tapper’s show:
“We should ban possession of military-style semiautomatic weapons, we should buy back such weapons from all who choose to abide by the law, and we should criminally prosecute any who choose to defy it by keeping their weapons.”
Swalwell also wrote an op-ed promoting his Orwellian policies last year titled, “Ban assault weapons, buy them back, go after resisters.”
Last week, the Independent Journal Review reported:
Swalwell is, however, determined with his gun control plan as he asked through a Twitter poll if people “support a ban AND buy-back of every weapon of war in America?” The two answers were either: “Yes!Australia already has” or “No. We love Guns > Kids.”
After garnering 19,342 votes, the Democrats’ poll went sour for him as 79% of those who answered responded, “No. We love Guns > Kids.”
Assault weapons have become the firearm of choice in too many mass shootings. We don’t have to live this way — those guns only belong on battlefields. Do you support a ban AND buy-back of every weapon of war in America?
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 2, 2019
This is the same Swalwell, let’s remember, who joked about using nuclear weapons on gun owners, as GPM reported in November 2018:
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, said on Twitter the United States government has nuclear weapons it could use to persuade American unwilling to give up their “assault weapons.”
Swalwell’s Tweets are reprinted below:
So basically @RepSwalwell wants a war. Because that’s what you would get. You’re outta your f***ing mind if you think I’ll give up my rights and give the gov all the power. https://t.co/bK1GVyjFej
— Joe Biggs (@Rambobiggs) November 16, 2018
Don’t be so dramatic. No one is nuking anyone or threatening that. I’m telling you this is not the 18th Century. The argument that you would go to war with your government if an assault weapons ban was in place is ludicrous and inflames the gun debate. Which is what you want. https://t.co/oX0rY7Nbs1
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 16, 2018
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
Teresa Mull is editor of Gunpowder Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].