Shuster: Is right wing rhetoric helping to push violence in America?

(h/t Heather)

On the heels of C&L's reporting on the Poplawski case, David Shuster filled in for Chris Matthews on Hardball Monday and did a very important segment asking the question: "Is the angry rhetoric emanating from the right winger talkers infecting the hard right of the GOP? And are they being turned into militias?"

I'm not against guns, but would like more restrictions and all assault weapons banned. The gun manufacturers just want to turn profits so they have their minions activated to pounce on any mention of a "gun" in a negative light. Charles Blow came on and explained this: New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow wanted a better sense of the mind and mood of the country of the right, and so he immersed himself in conservative media. He wrote in Saturdays New York Times: My read: They're apocalyptic. They feel isolated, angry, betrayed and besieged. And some of their leaders seem to be trying to mold them into militias.

Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, was on to defend those who are worried President Obama wants to take away their guns and leave them unarmed, or something. They just need those assault weapons or they won't feel safe at night. You can see what we're up against here, with people like Gottlieb carrying the water for the gun-toting, anti-Obama crowd, which spreads a very dangerous message of fear that is resonating far and wide to a very unhappy segment of our population. BLOW: But I think what's happening in that echo chamber is very dangerous, because it only takes a couple of people — or one person — to do something that — with a gun that is very irresponsible, that leads to something like this. And I feel like, if you are going to let these people ramble on, and if they feel like that's a responsible way to use the platform that they have, then that's very unfortunate. GOTTLIEB: I'm not saying confront that fear with guns, but that doesn't mean you can't own one. And if you think the government might take your rights away from you, then you want to exercise before that happens. It's a normal reaction. Everybody does it, left or right. In fact, a lot of the people buying guns, first time gun owners, happen to be liberal Democrats. BLOW: A lot of people buying guns are also not liberal Democrats. Across the spectrum people are buying guns. People have written this story in newspapers across the country. When they ask people why they're buying guns, theyre afraid the government will infringe on that right. That is a dangerous situation.

The best part is that Gottlieb can't ever name an actual statement by Obama suggesting he'd like to take away people's guns, let alone any serious initiative by either Obama or the Democrats to even pass gun-control legislation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• David Shuster
• militias
• violence

[eugeneonegin09]

YES! when you have professional rabble-rousers like beck, limbaugh, hannity etc. scare folks with talk like " this new govt. will take away your freedom and your guns". it excites folks who have short fuses and add to that unemployment ,it pours gasoline on an open fire

[phrek75]

facisme is heading your way america.

mainstream media trying to make allan gottlieb look bad.

[trapp313]

no keep ur guns but if your going to shoot someone make sure it is yourself

[lagoavirtual]

They SHOULD take everyone's guns away in America.... talk about avoiding the elephant in the room.

[MrBullfrog9876]

Now liberals are questioning not only our right to keep and bear arms but our free speach is now brought into question.

[libbie7777]

@LuvChaos. So you think a socialist sodomite loving , Antichrist is a good example for the country .

[MarmaladeINFP]

@libbie7777 I really don't care. Your obsession with Obama is none of my business. I'm no fan of Obama. I'm proud to say that I didn't vote for Obama and I didn't vote for Bush.

[libbie7777]

@MarmaladeINFP yea right the looneys are those who believe in Obama Hes a socialist Nut

[libbie7777]

@LuvChaos I didnt fall for it Obama America got dooped by this make believe messiah, he wicked socialist talking us globalism and toward the new world order if you dont know nothing about the globailist look it up look up Builderberge look up fema camps Look up this video MTV warns us of martial law. it the bible coming to pass before out eyes

[MarmaladeINFP]

Yet another Republican blaming Democrats for the violent language and behavior of Republicans. Obama made Beck use Nazi film footage. Okay, Mr. Republican. Just calm down. The nice men in the white coats will be coming soon and everything will be fine.

[fwalker94]

i would not use the n word