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Huckabee doubles down on myth that Nazis confiscated guns

These days, it's not too often that 92% of Americans agree on anything.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 29, 2012. (Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 29, 2012.

These days, it's not too often that 92% of Americans agree on anything. But according to the latest CBS/New York Times poll, that's the percentage of Americans who support universal background checks for gun buyers. That's why they call it "common sense" legislation.

This might explain why Republican lawmakers are dangerously close to eliminating the universal background check requirement from the Senate’s gun violence prevention package. That's right: just three months after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary school, it seems the "Connecticut Effect" has worn off and Republicans are back to spouting the same risky rhetoric.

Case and point: former Arkansas Governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee. When a caller on his radio show Wednesday expressed concern that background checks would lead to gun confiscation, like it did (NOT) in Nazi Germany, the Huckster ran with it:

“People do forget that. And by the way, [caller] know, that when you bring that up you get people who get crazy on us, and they'll start saying, 'Oh there you go comparing to the Nazis.' And I understand the reaction, but it's the truth. You cannot take people's rights away if they're resisting and if they have the means to resist, but once they're disarmed and the people who are trying to take over have all the power, not just political, not just financial, but they have the physical power to domesticate us and to subjugate us to our will there's not a whole lot we can do about it other than just plan to die in the course of resistance. It's very true [caller], and I appreciate you bringing it up. I know that people are probably calling and saying you know you shouldn't have brought that up. In every society and culture where dictators take over, one of the things they have to do is get control of the military and the police and ultimately all of the citizens and make sure the citizens are disarmed and can't fight in the streets. Gosh I hope it doesn't come to that.”

When in doubt, Republicans compare the Obama administration to Nazis.

When in doubt, Republicans talk in hypotheticals.

When in doubt, Republicans fan the flames of whatever conspiracy the NRA is pushing.

It's that kind of rhetoric that prevents us from having an honest discussion about gun control here in America.