“What will you do to confine semi-automatic weapons to use only by military and law enforcement?” a woman asked independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a New Hampshire townhall meeting (see video below). Her biased presumption was that such a ban would be desirable, beneficial, and constitutional, no doubt the result of relying on Democrats and the media (same thing) for what she “knows” about the issue.
“I am not going to take people’s guns away,” Kennedy responded. “You know, anybody who tells you that we can end the violence to our children that’s going on now by removing people’s guns is not being truthful with you.”
He’s spent time in rural communities, Kennedy explained. He’s seen that the “gun culture… is closely tied to people’s identities” and notes those people view talk of taking their guns as “an existential threat.”
“It hasn’t worked it, has polarized our country more and it’s made people dig in more and I’m trying to end the polarization,” he elaborated. People fear “our entire Constitution is under attack,” and to underscore that point, Kennedy cited government censorship, identifying dissenters on social media, and closing businesses during the Covid panic without due process and compensation.
“Going after people’s guns at this point in history is to me just going to cause more polarization and make it so that we can’t listen to each other anymore because we get put into these kinds of tribal silos which we have to somehow figure out a way to get past,” Kennedy asserted. “We cannot have any more school shootings even if that means protecting schools the same way that we protect Airlines.”
His answer is way better than a Biden alternative, and it sounds good on the surface– at least to people who haven’t looked very deeply at the issue, like some of the YouTube comment posters.
“I’m going to refer people to this video when they say your anti 2nd Amendment,” one responded. “I am a pro-gun Conservative and RFK, Jr. could not be more correct on this point. He has my vote,” wrote another.
So, what did he miss? Aside from the barn?
That the country is “polarized” and at risk of becoming more so should not be his main argument. Polarization is a necessity because those in “tribal silos” demanding citizen disarmament are wrong. “Compromising” with anyone corrupt or ignorant enough to believe otherwise is surrendering to tyranny.
As for protecting schools the same way TSA protects airports, he might want to consult reports like “TSA Chief Out After Agents Fail 95 Percent of Airport Breach Tests” and “TSA Misses 70% Of Fake Weapons But That’s An Improvement.” The answer is not expanding a federal Kabuki theater jobs program to more “gun-free zones,” but instead to note the success of the Faculty & Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response armed response program:
“The FASTER program has trained over 3,000 teachers and school staff. FASTER qualified teachers are in over 300 schools around the country. FASTER has programs in Ohio, Colorado, and Arizona. And it’s growing.”
Nowhere has Kennedy shown that he understands any of this, or of the true purpose and meaning of the Second Amendment. Instead, his “going after people’s guns at this point in history” qualifier is a red flag – it implies there might come another time or set of circumstances where he’ll return to his past hostility to guns and decide the time is right.
We shouldn’t forget a 2018 tweet he deleted because recalling it conflicts with the image he’s trying to project now:
“Let’s be honest. The NRA is as responsible for the MSD child murders as if they pulled the trigger. NRA has turned 2d Amendment into a suicide pact for our children. When do we deal with NRA?”
That was then? This is now? People change? Here’s a more current (2023) quote:
“Kennedy said that he would get behind a bipartisan assault weapons ban, which the overwhelming majority of Democrats support, but has little chance of getting through Capitol Hill given widespread GOP opposition. ‘If we can get a consensus on it, if Republicans and Democrats agree to it and it passes Congress, I would sign it,’ he said.”
Sorry, Bobby. That kind of polarizing talk just makes some of us want to fortify our tribal silos. And gun owners who don’t get that had better wise up before throwing away their vote on a spoiler to the benefit of Joe Biden.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
He is a nobody and will forever be a nobody, with no power over us.
I have never voted for a democrat, not going to start now.
As soon as this guy came out against the covid regime people on the right started fangirling over him. He’s great when it comes to Fauci but he’s a big spending, far left Democrat on everything else. He even praised the lockdowns early on saying they were good for the environment.
This guy has always been anti-2A and he’s now taking the stance that gun control wouldn’t be his first priority. That in no way, shape, or form means he’s changed his stance.
His pick for VP should tell you all you need to know. This Bay Area leftist is pro abortion, anti-gun and anti liberty. Her selection shows Kennedy’s intent to run to the left of Biden. That says it all.
RFK Jr Answers on Guns Miss Key Points & Leave Door Open for More Infringements
“Going after people’s guns at this point in history…”
He’s a Kennedy. He’s a demoKKKrat. What else did you expect, no matter what tune he’s singing today. A leopard doesn’t change it’s spots. The same going for Tulsi Gabbard and her road to Damascus moment.
COWPIES
To the great unwashed masses, he might sound like a reasonable alternative to the two geriatrics the main parties have put up. But, take a look at his choice for veep. That’s where the rubber meets the road. She is a billionaire prog who makes most lefties seem conservative by comparison. Everyone thinks Cameltoe is a huge risk being one heart attack away from the Oval Office. This bimbo may be better looking, but she’s Joseph Stalin in drag.
I make it a rule not to support Communist’s of any party,so he’s automatically not elegable for my support.
The “pro-gun conservative” who pledged his vote for this scheming, lying POS Kennedy is neither. That statement came from a dimocRAT operative.
Anyone from the 2A community that would even consider a vote for this liar has mental retardation problems.
“Sorry, Bobby. That kind of polarizing talk just makes some of us want to fortify our tribal silos. And gun owners who don’t get that had better wise up before throwing away their vote on a spoiler to the benefit of Joe Biden.” This statement implies that votes for “Bobby” would come either from otherwise conservative voters, thus taken from Trump, or that most or all independent and undecided voters who were leaning toward Trump might now reconsider and vote for RFK, Jr., instead. Personally, I have never and will never (while alive) vote for a Democrat running for office… Read more »
Anyone with a D behind their name has to GO. That’s the only way this country will get back on track. We also have a few with an R that also need to go. They voted in the middle of the night on Sat morning to keep the illegal flights running 51-47.