(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/22/2023) The Michigan Republican Party (MRP) tweeted out a Twitter meme Wednesday morning comparing the debate over gun control to the Nazi extermination of Jews and other people during World War II.
Over a picture showing thousands of wedding rings is the text "Before they collected all these wedding rings . . . they collected all the guns."
"History has shown us that the first thing a government does when it wants total control over its people is to disarm them. President Reagan once stated, ‘If we lose freedom here, there is nowhere else to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth.’"
The post had received more than 100,000 views by noon and was universally panned by Republicans and Democrats alike.
"Take this vile post down immediately," wrote Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills).
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Trott called the meme "despicable" in that it plays on "people's fears and ignorance."
He said opponents of gun control legislation are unwilling to recognize that the public has lost some of its freedoms from the mass shootings. If these same folks spent more time reading the gun control bills and understanding that they will not infringe on gun owners' Second Amendment rights, but instead save lives, there could be a more honest discourse.Another tweeted response includes: "State Party only has two main jobs: 1. Raise Money 2. Win Elections. Memes like this don’t further either of those goals," wrote former Livingston County Park Chair Meghan Reckling.
MRP Chair Kristina Karamo defended the post in a tweet by saying she is sympathetic to racism as the great-, great granddaughter of a man lynched by a white mob.
“Government abuse of citizens has not only happened in world history, but American history,” she wrote. "We will not be silent as the Democratic Party, the party who fought to enslave Black Americans, and currently fights to murder unborn children, attempt to disarm us.
“Our 2nd Amendment was put in place to protect us from aspiring tyrants. MIGOP stands by our statement.”
Conservative political consultant Dennis Lennox added, "When you invoke the Nazis, you've lost the debate . . . What do you expect from the party whose now-persona non grata gubernatorial nominee and titular head is a podcast host?"
Progress Michigan Executive Director Lonnie Scott said in a press release today that the meme is part of a "consistent pattern from Michigan Republicans to use the Holocaust in order to score cheap political points, whether it was their arguments in opposition to COVID public health orders or abortion.
"This is nothing new from Michigan Republicans, but we cannot remain silent as they continue their shameful assault on Jewish people, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and others," Scott said.
