Jun 24 2009
Right Wing Extremism Plus Guns: A Recipe for Disaster
Three recent incidents bring to sharp relief what seems to be a growing trend of right-wing reactionary gun violence: the murder of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller in Kansas, the shooting at Washington DC’s Holocaust Museum, and the home invasion and murder of a Latino mother and son in Arizona. All three incidents were perpetrated by white, gun-toting extremists, and seem to confirm conclusions by the Department of Homeland Security and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which in separate reports warned of a spike in extremist groups and their potential hate crimes. A deadly confluence of factors is cited for this spike: the nation’s first black presidency, the economic recession, and an increase in immigrant populations. Added to that the striking ease of obtaining guns, and the perception that Obama plans on tightening gun control. The right-wing blogosphere is rife with conspiracy theories about Obama’s country of birth, urgent calls to stockpile ammunition, gas, and food, and even disturbing hints towards the President’s assassination. Are we entering a new deadly phase of right-wing extremism?
GUEST: Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst with Political Research Associates
Read Chip Berlet’s blog at www.publiceye.org.
3 Responses to “Right Wing Extremism Plus Guns: A Recipe for Disaster”
[…] to make such bold statements as this, the mainstream media would have another field day. But when Uprising radio makes bold statements, it apparently just warning its listeners to the “truth.” Double […]
Glorify those gun owning rights! In your country, most think that rights depend on a willingness to commit war crmies! Is it any wonder that the homicide rate is so high? You teach children that freedom comes through the barrel of a gun! The young people drown in TV, cinema and books that glorify violence. Too bad Pacifica provides no alternatives.
Push politics one way and it will go, but then will swing back, balance between individual freedom, responsibility and governance is the norm. Those that call for gun control should start with convicting felons, convicted violent domestic abusers and the mentally ill whom try to buy guns to PRISON. Instead the above get refused purchase with little or no consequences. Stop going after the guns of lawful citizens.