Swalwell makes NRA Cover as he’s Pegged as a “Gas Bag”

Appearing on the front cover of their monthly publication, Democrat Eric Swalwell (D-East Bay) has made quite the name for himself recently as the NRA and others have attempted to peg him as a crazy, out of touch liberal.

Following November comments made by the Congressman, right wing organizations and particularly gun advocates have used Swalwell’s statements to cast a wide net over the Democratic Party in order to portray an aggressive gun-grabbing narrative.

Whether true or false, right or wrong, the controversy was sparked after Swalwell published an op-ed in USA Today titled “Ban assault weapons, buy them back, go after resisters.”

The three-term Representative went on to outline a proposal that would ban all “military-style semiautomatic assault weapons” and force existing owners to sell their weapons or face prosecution. Certainly an extreme policy pitch that has separated his views from even some of his more left-leaning colleagues.

Further drama ensued after Swalwell came under a barrage of attacks from the media and hundreds of citizens on social media.

Some wrote “make no mistake, Democrats want to eradicate the Second Amendment, ban and seize all guns, and have all power rest with the state. These people are dangerously obsessed with power.” – @johncardillo. And, “basically Eric Swalwell wants a war. Because that’s what you would get. You’re out of your f***ing mind if you think I’ll give up my rights and give the government all the power.” –@Joebiggs.

Swalwell specifically responded to the two comments listed above stating “and it would be a short war my friend. The government has nukes. Too many of them. But they’re legit.” As imagined, the conversation or general idea of the U.S. government using nukes on its own people only added fuel to the fire.

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

Swalwell would go on to reel in his statements, however, the right wing media was quick to expose the Congressman and the NRA’s most recent magazine issue suggests that “a hollow threat against gun owners nonetheless betrays the bad intentions of gun-grabbers who have taken over the House.”

Swalwell addressed his front cover appearance saying “they mischaracterized my position. My plan to ban assault weapons is not ‘hollow’. It’s very real and the public is with me.” He also added, “the first freedom is not gun ownership. It’s life.”

Although such legislation has not officially been introduced in the House, under this type of proposal, Swalwell explained how the government would offer anywhere from $200 to $1,000 to buy back every weapon outlawed by the ban. The total cost appears high as experts estimate that it would take nearly $15 billion to buy back roughly 15 million weapons.

Additionally, Swalwell says “Australia got it right.”