Jesse Jackson Repeats Claim That Semi-Autos Can ‘Shoot Down Airplanes’ — Now They Can Also ‘Blow Up Railroads’

Getty Images
Rev. Jesse Jackson on Sunday repeated the debunked claim that semi-automatic and so-called assault weapons can “shoot down airplanes” — and added that they can also “blow up railroads.”
“Semi-automatic weapons are not just about gun control, they’re about national security,” Jackson said on Fox News. “You know that these weapons can shoot down airplanes, they can blow up railroads. This is really a whole national security issue.”
He added, “you want a gun for your house, you got it, a gun with which to hunt, you got it. But these semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons — they shot at the White House two years ago, so none of us are safe.”
TheBlaze asked a panel of experts last month just how realistic Jackson assertion was after he made a similar claim. The verdict: “laughable.”
“It’s clear Rev. Jackson doesn’t know the first thing about rifles and guns in general,” former CIA officer and author of “The Covert Guide to Concealed Carry” Jason Hanson said.
Chris Gahr, who assisted in aircraft investigations while in the Marine Corps, summed it up this way: “you would have a better chance of being hit by lightning WHILE winning the lottery than bringing down a commercial airliner with the weapons that [accused Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooter James] Holmes carried.”
On Sunday, Jackson — who has called for the Department of Homeland Security to patrol the streets of Chicago to deal with soaring gun violence — said “the full weight of the government” needs to be devoted to stopping the city’s gun problems.
“We need a comprehensive plan, we need jobs, education access and health care,” Jackson said. “[We] need to appeal for intervention to stop this killing…the full weight of our government must come in as we had to appeal for intervention into Birmingham or into Selma to stop this killing…we need a level of support we’ve never had before.”
–
Related:
- Jesse Jackson Wants Homeland Security to Patrol Streets of Chicago
- ‘Laughable’: We Asked Experts (Including a Former CIA Officer) to Weigh in on Rev. Jackson’s Claim That ‘Assault Weapons’ Can ‘Shoot Down Planes’
- Rev. Jesse Jackson: Assault Weapons Can ‘Shoot Down Planes’ & Therefore Pose Risk to National Security
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.
















































































































Comments (185)
Magyar
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:33pmA failed and flawed man who actually has the audacity use the title REVEREND—
The LORD will call him to account for his sins and he will be judged!
Report this comment
oldguy49
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:40pmyou just can’t fix stupid………..but it is nice to know i can do trains also
Report this comment
afishfarted
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:54pmIsaw his script for next week.
And dem dam things can blow up da capitol buildin. Day almost blowed up da white house, but thankfully, da secret service wrestled da bullit to da ground and save our dear leader. I-I-I- mean our prezident”.
Report this comment
banjarmon
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:09pmHey jesse Go skeet shooting with BHO!!!
Report this comment
tom
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:13pmUseful idiot of the Left. Idiot emphasized
Report this comment
TEOTWASWKI
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:47pmIf he wants to stop gun violence in Chicago they need to go after Jesse’s people not our guns.
Report this comment
1TrueOne55
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:34pmWithout a link to the original incident that Jesse “Black Panther” Jackson is talking about we can only guess at what he is talking about. I idid remember that they found that somebody had fired at the White House and they arrested someone that had an AK47 in his trunk…
People need to google the ballistic statistics on the 7.62×39 AK47 round and the 5.56×45 AR15 round and see that there are differences to what each round is capable of.
Report this comment
justangry
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:45pmWe need to ask Jesse… “Since minorities are disproportionately represented by our judicial system, and current proposals are focused on background checks… Why does he want to disarm minorities?”
Report this comment
jlightning1
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 11:58pmWhats up with Jackson? He sounds more and more like a bumbling idiot every time he crawls out from under a rock. I am not sure what kind of people he hangs around with that causes him to mumble in order to communicate… He sounds like some old homeless alcoholic that just stumbled out of the liquor store drinking gin out of a bag. He is all confused because he took a sip and forgot to remove the cigarette from his mouth and almost set his face on fire. Now his bag is on the sidewalk with a broken bottle in it and he is mumblin about gettin sum more dollas together to get a new bottle. Libs need to keep him off TV.. WOW!
Report this comment
afishfarted
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 12:18am@jlightning1;
Could be he dun got the same problem his baby boy got. Just that the left has been covering for daddy all these many unholy years
Report this comment
MIBUGNU2
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:51amThe demand will surely go up for assault weapons in Chicago
with this new information put out by the Rev. JJ
Callin’ Big Sis’ to help out in Chitown…..
Report this comment
KURT1010
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 6:55amThe REV only goes where something is going on so he can get into a photo…I wonder if this man has ever worked an honest day in his life ? Look at his son….the Rev wears nice suits , etc …where does his money come from ? Ranibow organization ? No white in a rainbow…
Report this comment
super_why
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:26am…..and also I think JJ is losing hs marbles,early dementia or something….
Report this comment
turkey13
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:28amLike son – like father. Two nuts falling together don’t land very far from each other!
Report this comment
mikem1969
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:11amwow, this guy is a moron. We used to have an old train car in a field that was rusted out and we shot that thing full of holes with 30-30s, 30-06, 12 ga, 44 magnum and so it. IT NEVER BLEW UP Jessie moron. And again, if you don’t know about ballistics, don’t sit there and tell me that a civilian rifle can shoot down a plane. IT CAN’T. One, the bullet is way to small, and given the speed of most civilian bullets versus the speed of a plane and the normal flying height of a plane, you could fire 50000 rounds in the air and NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE TO HITTING ONE. Don’t speak about what you don’t know, it shows how stupid you truly are.
Report this comment
13th Imam
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:13amJawana Brawler is only one of the Jesse half of the justice brothers accomplishments. Look up Freddies Fashion Mart where this race pimp murdered 7 , Yes SEVEN people by inciting a tribe of thugs to burn down a Jewish owned business. They were Angelina Marrero, Cynthia Martinez, Luz Ramos, Mayra Rentas, Olga Garcia, Garnette Ramaytar and Kareem Brunner. And the Hispanics align themselves with the black redistributionist ? And this all happened in Hymietown. JJ’s words , not mine
Report this comment
JQuentinEvermann
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:34amLaugh all you want to people, but you should see the staggering numbers of airplanes shot from the air with a .223…not to mention the hundreds of trains that were blown up last year alone with AR-15′s and TEC-9′s!
Report this comment
gperky
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 2:41pmWhat do you expect from a guy whose IQ is less than 70?
Report this comment
ionamerica
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:24pmOne wonders how you post something without clicking a “reply” button. Anyway, I have always suspected that it would be possible to bring down a plan if you indeed “stood at the end of a runway” and shot directly into a jet engine. The bullet should break the compressor blades and send metal parts spinning throughout the engine until it shakes itself apart. Does that make rifles a national security risk? Not in my book. The idea that an automatic weapon could take out a train is beyond absurd, but then… so is Jesse Jackson.
Report this comment
Secret Squirrel
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:10pm“………and they can knock down buildings, and sink ships, and
blow up the Moon, so we need to take them away from you.”
No wonder Jessie Jr. is depressed.
Report this comment
justangry
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:29pmCan they shoot down your boy’s drones, Jesse?
Report this comment
mamatango
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 5:37amIf an AR15 could shoot down an airplane, do you really think we’d STILL be dealing with CHEMTRAILS?
ROFL
Report this comment
NHwinter
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:32amIf you read what the progressives say in the articles on the Blaze you have to seriously wonder if they all aren’t living in an alternative reality. They sound so far off normal that I am beginning to wonder if any of them are sane. Liberalism/Progressiveism truly is a mental disease. I think that is what evil does to the progressive mind.
Report this comment
The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:53pmAn AR15 can’t even shoot down a flimsy news helicopter, what chance does it have against a C130? Or a train, which is mostly metal and not plastic like an airplane?
Is his audience really that ignorant?
Report this comment
Zipit
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 3:04pmGoat! YES!!!
Report this comment
BackToTheWall
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:29pmI had no idea I was so powerful. On your knees weaklings!
Report this comment
oldduffer
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:29pmJessie the mouth is what happens when you take a hood out of the hood too early and try to educate him.
Surprised he didn’t boycott God for white snow.
Report this comment
Armyof One
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:28pmSomeone needs to remind Reverend Jessie Jackson, that he’s really not a Reverend. Nor does he have a church. Nor does he actually, you know, preach.
I suppose he has as much relevance to God, as he does firearms.
Report this comment
starman70
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:35amThe reverand has no “Reverence” for anything except the government funds he can obtain, the money he can coerce “his” people to donate to his causes and the money he can extort from corporations by threatening to boycott them and hold demonstrations in front of their buildings and facilities.
Basically, if he is a “Reverend” I, at 73 years old, without a pilots license, will be named commander and chief pilot of the first mission to Mars. Jackson is nothing more than one of the most accomplished con artists of this century.
Report this comment
Uechi
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:26pmIf I called him what he is I’d be accused of being a racist. Let me just say the man is a moron and anybody that follows this man is a fool black or white or yellow or whatever your favorite pc color happens to be today.
Report this comment
TommyGuns
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:23pmMakes you wonder if mental illness is genetic. I’m convinced of the old adage of the apple not falling far from the tree. Think of the corollaries between son and father. Both are adulterers, dishonest, and now clearly suffering from mental illnesses. The Reverend needs to exit the stage and take his other bigoted cohort, Reverend Al with him. So long as these people are allowed on the public stage to rabble-rouse, nothing positive will happen for the black community. They preach hatred and advocate a culture of dependency. Go to Iran or Venezuela with your nonsense Jesse. Or maybe California is short a village idiot. Anywhere except where decent law abiding, god fearing citizens want to live free of government tyranny and control.
Report this comment
centralflorida
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:20pmHe should be careful for what he ask for. Or probably he knows exactly what he’s asking for.
The gun show today was packed. My wife got a new gun and applied for a CCW. I’m a 31/2′ shot gun shell guy myself.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:18pmJackson is ALMOST as ignorant about firearms as ENCINOM.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:24pmHi RJJ,
Enjoying the game? I’m doing my annual “time the Super Bowl” again. LOL
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:26pmAnd about as ugly…… LMAO !!!
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:32pmHi MONK, LOL. Yeah, pretty much. I finally decided yesterday to root for Baltimore, and am glad that I did. Still can’t say that I have a dog in this fight. Funny on that timing. There seems to be several minutes of commercials per thirty seconds of actual play time.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:47pmHey RJJ,
I see the lights are out now.
Must have been a Union job fixing up that stadium!!! LOL
Report this comment
spirited
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:48pmA surge caused a power outage…. lights out!
>Beyonce zapped the place
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:59pmOK…. conspiracy theory time.
The beer companies shut down the lights…. Why?
The longer the game lasts, the more beer they will sell. LOL
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:59pmSPIRITED, Reckon Thunder Thighs shook the stadium too hard during Half Time. I think that San Francisco should throw in the towel since the not so fat lady has already sung.
Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:02pmI’ve got no dog in the fight, either, except the Bengals play the Baltimore Thugs, I mean Ravens twice every year. That makes me root for San Fran. I really don’t care who wins, though. If they ever get the lights back on.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:04pmANONYMOUS T. IRRELEVANT, I hear you too. But, I used to live in out in the Bay Area just outside of San Francisco. That is why I am rooting for Baltimore.
Report this comment
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:18pmRJJ:
Just think, if they get their physics facts from Hollyweird, why do they want to ban High Cap magazines, in the movies, you never have to reload, not even a 6 shooter.
Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:24pmRJJ breathing a big sigh of relief, having o no longer live in Koolaid-fornia :-)
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:00pmDARMOK, LOL, that reminds me of the Mad Magazine parody of the movie Where Eagles Dare, showing Cling Eastwoods MP40 with about a three foot long stick mag.
ANONYMOUS T. IRRELEVANT, That was back in the ’50s, but I still have enough whacked relatives out there to remind me just how lucky we were.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:04pmClint! I meant to type Clint!
Report this comment
Rob
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:18pmImagine if Lincoln had gone with his original plan to send all the blacks back to Africa… wow, what a beautiful world it would be.
Report this comment
gperky
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 2:48pmHow many handouts/entitlements do they have in Africa?
Report this comment
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:17pmReverand Jackson, I also support gun control laws against Elmer Fudds carring shotguns and hunting Wabbits during Duck season. Just remember, you can always just stick your finger in the barrel, that causes it to blow up in the shooters face. Hey Jesse, you need to stop getting your physics facts from Looney Toons.
Report this comment
Fla.Patriot
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 1:53amRight!? If these “assault” weapons could really do all that, it would be standing room only at the gun shows. In the words of the great and wise Bugs Bunny…What a maroon!
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:14pmA high-powered rifle can take down a P51 Mustang by hitting it in the radiator.
A P-51 pilot has about 10 minutes before the engine will seize up.
But, I’ve never flown coach in a P-51…
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:22pmHi MONK, The .223 round while formidable at what it was designed to do, it is anything but a high powered round. Naturally, if you can get enough gunners to put enough rounds into a light aircraft at a relatively close range, it can be taken down with this round.
Report this comment
Crazy-Horse
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:22pmYou got that right Monk. Been there a few times. Full throttle and climb in the direction of home base. When that Merlin locks…. set the prop pitch and glide as far as you can. Been flying lately Monk? Haven’t seen you around the hangers in a long time.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:30pmHi RJJ,
My P-51 buddy has been shot down a few times by AK-47 fire.
Hit the radiator and the engine overheats in less than a half hour. But that’s not really being shot down.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:39pmSup Huls?
Your post sure took a long time to show up.
I saw mine post way before the time stamp on yours shows.
You piss-off someone at The Blaze again? LOL
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:44pmHi MONK, I recall reading a magazine article back when I was still in high school. In the story it related the highest decorated North Vietnamese civilian at the time successfully shot down a low flying F4 Phantom with an AK47. Still not sure if it was true, or propaganda.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:50pmHi MONK, Some friends and I used to go up to the Tampa Downs Airfield to look around a drool over the aircraft. A beautiful P51D called Color Me Gone was always there then. That was back in the ’70s. About ten years later while checking out an air show at Ft Drum’s Wheeler – Sack AAF several of us found ourselves looking over another P51D and I mentioned the Color Me Gone I found myself standing next to the owner/pilot. He started a conversation with me and let me know that plane had crashed a few years earlier killing it’s owner/pilot. That was very sad news.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:53pmHi RJJ,
I think Jesse (fish eyes) Jackson is referring to that Batman movie where The Joker shot down the Bat Plane with his long-barreled, 6-shooter, wheel pistol.
All these Dems think Hollywood movies are real.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:56pmHi MONK, I’m surprised they are not taking opportunity of this Halftime Part Du and running a boat load of ads. Just heard then say it will take at least another fifteen minutes to get all of the lights back on.
Report this comment
Crazy-Horse
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:56pmYeah Monk, I have a tendacy to shoot my mouth off. I must be on a special watch list. Anything you can do to get me off of it?
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:08pmHi RJJ,
If the lights are out longer than 16 and a half minutes…..
They will be out longer than the entire amount of time “live” play time.
1st quarter was 3:33 and the 2nd quarter was 4:20 for a total 1st half time of 7 minutes and 55 seconds of “live ball” play time.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:15pmNopw that’s funny MONK. Dang, now that they are playing the dog needs to go out!
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:22pmYep MONK, looks like they are back to regular advertising time now.
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:27pmWhere are you at Huls?
Too early to go to bed…. having issues again?
Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:39pmHey Huls,
Oh my…. 30 minutes for your post to show. Don’t know if I can help. I have no power here at all.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:53pmLOL! Finally, one of the commercials was genuinely funny. Leon Sandcastle!
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 10:01pmOkay, hands down best commercial yet. I think they were advertising a truck, but it was Paul Harvey’s And, God made a farmer.
Report this comment
mrja
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:14pmHe’s right, Obama shot the wheels off the economic engine and derailed the dollar, all with his ‘often used’ skeet rifle
Report this comment
MDECKER
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:43pmHaving a brother that ran with the Chicago gang, the El Rukns, Jesse is probably quite familliar with all sorts of weaponry.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:52pmMDECKER, and how to hold it sideways, gangster style!
Report this comment
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:03pmI hear that semi-autos can also sink aircraft carriers.
Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 9:21pmANONYMOUS T. IRRELEVANT, LOL, just ask ENCCINOM or WANGO SAUCE
Report this comment
denkat56
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:09pmHey work on one problem at a time, clean up Chicago’s streets. Then you can become a weapons expert. While your at it read up on your weapons training, especially the assault weapons capabilities. And as usual you actually might know what the hell your talking about. Go figure. Preacher, adulterer, black panther supporter, weapons expert, there’s nothing that this man can’t do. Except be a man of peace, not politics, lead by example not just words.
Report this comment
wuggly ump
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:08pmWould someone please remind Rev. Jessie the Second Amendment isn’t about shooting deer, it’s about shooting dictators and tyrants. Actually looking at the rest of his statements he already understands this and wants a Big Brother state, so he has to get rid of the privately owned firearms first.
Report this comment
RLTW
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:06pmIgnorance and utter stupidity does not describe this utter POS, if all he said was true the revolution would have already begun. And yet we sit and wait until we’re pushed, then the mass of individual patriots will shut down this admin and right the ship.
Report this comment
johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:05pmHey, Jesse, tell me again about that love child you fathered and then were caught supporting both the child and mother with Rainbow Coalition funds.
I guess that you were too busy reading-up on ballistics and armor to learn about trust, integrity, dignity and love of family.
You are a disgusting, pitiful excuse for a man. You will burn for eternity in hell alongside Obama, Sharpton, et al.
Report this comment
perry1980
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:05pmJesse is drunk on Koolaid.
A fool folling fools
Report this comment
perry1980
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:05pmJesse is drunk on Koolaid.
A fool folling fools
Report this comment
right-wing-waco
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:04pmHmmmmm, I heard that if you’re a real good shot and take the wind and Earths rotation into account that you can hit both Jupiter and Saturn…. ;)
Jacksons a fool.
Report this comment
just happy
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:04pmsomeone needs to evaluate him for altzheimer’s [sp] before he walks off somewhere and can’t find his way back to a TV camera….wait….. Never mind!! that would be a good thing.!!! . forget it people he’s fine!!
Report this comment
crackerone
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:18pmAlzheimer’s? I was thinking late stages syphilis.
Report this comment
NO_MORE_OBAMA
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:01pmJesse pilot a plane ALONE and fly over Virginia a few times. Lets test that theory out. God I hope your right.
Report this comment
just happy
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:04pmLol
Report this comment
barber2
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:19pmBoth of you – thanks! Needed the laugh after all of this Jackson garbage !
Report this comment
DougHuffman
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:00pmThe conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.
Report this comment
Bodacious_Boedi
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:00pmThe Rear End Jesse Jackass……..he’s finally unraveled like a K Mart sweater!
Report this comment
KingDork
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 7:55pmby their logic, semi-autos can go through time and bake you some waffles to eat.
Report this comment
mercenary4freedom
Posted on February 3, 2013 at 8:05pmgovt wants our weapons so they can impose whatever they want upon us, more taxes, sharia law, amnesty to illegals, a dem controlled dictatorship & on & on.
jackson wants us disarmed so his people can have a green light to take their fair share from the haves.
Report this comment