Watch Live: Obama’s Counterterrorism Speech

Watch Today’s BlazeCast With Your Questions, Comments & Live Chat!

Media

Tom Brokaw: It’s ‘Far-Reaching’ to Think You Need Guns to Fight Back Against the Government

Jan. 18, 2013 5:30pm Madeleine Morgenstern

NBC’s Tom Brokaw said Thursday it’s “far-reaching” to think the American people need guns to fight back against the government.

Brokaw said on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” that one of the main arguments pro-gun advocates cite — that the Second Amendment is meant to protect against a tyrannical government — is pretty outlandish.

He said he agrees with retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal who supports “serious action” to curb gun violence and said military-grade weaponry doesn’t belong in civilian hands.

“The response to that was, ‘I have to keep my weapon because the government’s going to come and try to take it away from me, and I have to be able to fight back when that happens,’” Brokaw said. “Well that’s the most far-reaching thing you can possibly imagine.”

He continued, “If we get to a stage where storm troopers show up on your doorstep, it’s about a lot more guns, by the way, it’s anarchy in this country.”

(h/t Mediaite)

–

Related:

General Who Resigned Amid Critical Comments of Obama Offers Thoughts on Gun Control: ‘Serious Action Is Necessary’

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (489)

Memegalt
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:33pm
He should go and interview some the the “greatest generation” folks to see what their thoughts are on this.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
LilMissSunshine
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:27pm
Get your head out of your ass Tom…..nothing grows in the dark

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RaydocX
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:19pm
Mr Brokaw…
after our guns are gone, when some lib who lives within a hundred miles of you decides your annual multithousand dollar fireworks show is harming their calm, the stormtroppers will come a’knockin’ to take your explosive toys… no one NEEDS fireworks, Tom… they burn people… set things on fire… people die, Tom… you need to be more responsible. Give us your class ii explosive license, Tom, you served your purpose… we have to change the first amendment now, too, don’t you know…

what’s that, Tom? wishing you had not thrown your firearms owning neighbors under the bus?
Heh… thanks, Tom…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HowardSternIsABigot
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:14pm
If he is right, it follows tthat it is ludicrous for the government to fear private gun ownership by loyal good americans. Problem solved, nothing to be done, lets just move forward.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
scott4freedom
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:09pm
this goof isn’t even American he’s from Canada for cryin out loud. What the hell do they know about gun rights? It isn’t far reaching to think of a confrontation with our Government over the hijacking of our rights!
When they take away free speech and these talking heads are shipped off to reeducation camps to learn what to say and when to say it! I think then you will see from far reaching. The media had it’s chance to keep this country strong reporting facts on stories…they sold themselves to the highest bidder…Judas had more loyalty than these bunch of jackels!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
VetMike
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:09pm
“If we get to the stage where storm troopers show up on your doorstep….” Tom, by then it is too late. But you are one of the elite. You don’t have to swim down here with us peasants. If you want my gun confiscated have the eggs to come and get it yourself. Something this important to you should be worth your life. I laid mine on the line for what I believed was important and worthwhile, do you have the eggs to do the same?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Nairbmack
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 9:08pm
You know, its only been a little over 200 years (not very long in history) since we had to overthrow our government. Who is this guy to tell us we don’t need to stay armed? I’m sure all the revolutionary Americans are screaming at us from their graves right now. How stupid, lazy, and trusting we’ve become. Shameful.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ENIGMA28724
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:56pm
Tom Brokejaw is such an idiot. I suppose he slept through his world history class when they went over what happened to the disarmed Jews in Nazi Germany, the Cambodian people during the reign of terror of Pol Pot, the Christians in Burma, etc. I could go on and on about governments turning on their own people. It can happen here, and many feel it has already begun.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TeslanEdison
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:38pm
Anarchy? and stormtroopers? Wow you sound like an idiot Brokaw, you get Stormtroopers in a Fascist or communist society with lots and lots of government and new totalitarian rules. You get roaming bands of criminals and gangs, robbing whole neighborhoods in anarchy, that’s when there is no government.
The stormtroopers come out of the far left, anarchy the far right, you never have the two together. Both are equally just reasons for owning fully automatic and high power sniper rifles, as well as cannons and other large property defense tools that can engage an enemy at greater than 500 yards. Just for the record though if you are fighting against a huge government you do not try to fortify a location, you must be mobile..because eventually they will use the largest weapons at their disposal. If you remember George Washington didn’t have a huge fort somewhere that he just waited for the British to Attack, the British would have won that kind of war.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Moe1138
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:38pm
Seems to have worked for the colonists.
It can always happen again.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PROUD_2B_American
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:37pm
I think it’s obvious guys…………………..

The libs arguing their point to us, neither own guns or intend on physically fighting for anything.

They THINK they are a third party, and at no risk. They expect our law enforcement and military to be the ones to disarm US. So, they have to skin in this game (In their feeble minds)

They even find all this amusing; almost like a video game.

“Go get the right wingers” bang bang, pow pow…. yaaaa

Suggestion to the libs. NOTHING ever goes like it’s planned. Pitting two sides against each other doesn’t have a guaranteed outcome.
No matter WHAT happens, this country is BROKE. We’re printing money like it’s going out of style, AND monetizing our debt!! A judgement IS coming.
Win or lose, our paradigm is about to change

I suspect, you libs are going to be hopelessly disappointed, no matter the outcome

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Charles Curtis
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:24pm
Sam Adams time – The “Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms” –Sam Adams- RE: ratification.

“Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficient… The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.” — Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms. The possession of unnecessary implements makes difficult the collection of taxes and dues and tends to foment uprisings. — Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Shogun, August 1588

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good” — George Washington

Love your country, but never trust its government. — Robert A. Heinlein.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:24pm
The Department of Homeland Security has purchased 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition- that is not a typo — during the last six months. This includes 450 million rounds of .40 hollow point, 200 million rounds of .223 rifle ammunition, and 176,000 rounds of .308 168-grain hollow point boat tail (HPBT) that is used almost exclusively as ammo for sniper rifles.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:09pm
Guns and the Bible may possibly be the only way to get America back on track.
We do not want another Holocaust. It seems America is sure headed in that direction.
Instead of Germans and Jews, it will be Muslims and Christians.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MCGIRV
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:09pm
I’m sick of these modern day Tories! Tory- an American upholding the cause of the British Crown against the supporters of colonial independence during the American Revolution : loyalist

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
B4B
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:08pm
I just can’t stand anymore of this idiotic, straw-man, gum-flapping.
What the heck do “military grade weaponry” have to do with anything?
Was Sandy Hook perpetrated with “military grade weaponry”?
NO.
Does the general public have easy access to “military grade weaponry”?
NO.
This frustrates me to no end.
They’ve bastardized the language again and again so that supposedly intelligent people actually think this whole debate is about MACHINE GUNS.
I work in medical home-care. I visited an intelligent gentleman last week while this subject just happened to be on the TV in his home.
He gruffly remarked ” people shouldn’t be allowed to run around with AUTOMATIC WEAPONS anyway”, seeming to agree that “assault weapons” should be banned.
I asked him “do you think that Sandy Hook in Newtown was perpetrated with automatic weapons”?
He answered “Well, yes”.
I said “well it wasn’t, it was just a semi-automatic rifle, you know – one pull of the trigger fires one bullet”.
He replied “but they said they were “assault weapons” so I figured that guy used a machine gun”.
The left has so overtly and intentionally conflated “semi-automatic”, “assault weapon” and “military style” for so long that they themselves don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about anymore.
Confusion, deception, demonization, is always the game plan for the left.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Charles Curtis
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:07pm
WOW – since the 1st Amendment is the media by which TB make a living, and no amendment would be supportable without a government that understood that tyranny is not an option, and tyranny does not survive a armed populous. It would be wise just to say that the Second Amendment trumps you opinion TB and U-2, Stanley.
“Among the natural rights /./ are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.”
– Sam Adams –
Time for target practice and a beer and a good book to ease the tension of the day. No violence!
Love your country, but never trust its government.
– Robert A. Heinlein
“The power to tax involves the power to destroy;…the power to destroy may defeat and render useless the power to create….”
– Chief Justice John Marshall, 1819
“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms. The possession of unnecessary implements makes difficult the collection of taxes and dues and tends to foment uprisings.
– Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Shogun, August 1588
A l

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SirBeavis
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:06pm
Funny the left thinks it’s a silly idea that we might need to defend ourselves against the government when they applauded an Indiana court when it said people could legally use force, up to and including lethal force to prevent public servants (the government) from entering their property or overstepping their authority if the person thought it was illegal. I do believe this has since been over turned, but the point is they loved this idea when it fit the anti authority/anti police agenda, but not when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. http://theweek.com/article/index/229167/the-indiana-law-that-lets-citizens-shoot-cops

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
joey g
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:03pm
another sad old fart talking thru his ars…hahahahahahahhahhah

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Salamander
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:03pm
Tom Brokaw needs to go back to Canada!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
woodyee
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:01pm
This guy was reporting on countries trying to wipe out their people. What a short attention span. Why, throughout his career, he forgot he was a socialist…then he retired…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:57pm
Liberal thinking is so far from reality that Tom has no idea what he’s talking about. Our present government is no longer “our” government…………and they have every intention of destroying the Second Amendment…………if not the entire Constitution. And when that actually happens, they’ll do more than Hitler’s Storm Troopers ever did. These Liberals are total fanatics and will stop at nothing……..not even murdering Americans in the streets.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:57pm
Tom Brokaw, do you think we need guns to fight back against the United Nations?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
John Valentine
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:54pm
Tom, stick and stones don’t work. Maybe, guns will and maybe they won’t. But the government has gotten so big, and is acting so aggressively that people don’t know what else to do.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MBA
Posted on January 18, 2013 at 7:54pm
What an ignorant d * c k! this is the same liberal making millions by exploiting WWII veterans. I guess H I T L e r means nothing to brokaw.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.