Rep. Louie Gohmert: We Need Guns to Protect Us From Sharia Law

Is the Texas congressman undermining the case for gun rights?

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) has two passions: preserving the second amendment, and protecting Americans from Islamic law. He's now managed to bring his two enthusiasms together by asserting that citizens need gun rights to defend themselves against Sharia.

Gohmert began by explaining to radio host Jeff Akin why the 2nd amendment is necessary, before veering off into uncharted, Sharia-infested waters.

It is for our protection - and the founders' quotes make that very very clear - including against a government that would run amuck. We've got some people who think Sharia law oughta be the law of the land, forget the Constitution. But the guns are there, the Second Amendment is there, to make sure all of the rest of the amendments are followed.

The Texas congressman claims he isn't anti-Muslim, but he's perceived as stoking anti-Islam sentiment by pushing for congressional hearings on "creeping Sharia." Along with Rep. Michele Bachmann, Gohmert was part of the campaign against Hillary's aide Huma Abedin, alleging she had links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Gohmert also put forward an unusual defense of high-capacity ammunition magazines, quoting a source who claimed "we have got to have at least 50 rounds in our magazines because on average that's about how many it takes to bring down a drone."

Via Mediaite.

Do statements like Gohmert's hurt the case for gun rights?

[marine1]

This one aint even worth commenting on

[zachsquatch]

But it's so hard to resist...

[AntiPorcheria]

We got a foot of snow. Pretty impressive here for late February.

[norezen]

This is such a stupid topic but where is the spam topics about minimum wage change?

[norezen]

@norezen When I click economy issue, not a single mention of minimum wage discussion.

[Sonny]

'll bet this guy also talks to --Elvis-- at night...

[kathyparsell]

Let's argue female superiority instead!

[PNWest]

I'm afraid my wife won't let me :(

[zachsquatch]

@PNWest Mine will let me. I'll just have to sleep with the dog after the fact.

[Rocker]

I remember watching Sharia and lambchop when I was a kid.

[DARSB]

@zachsquatch As long as you aren't drinking tequila and then sleeping "with the dog" things will probably be okay the next afternoon. ;)

[kathyparsell]

@PNWest
Sounds like a good match!

[zachsquatch]

I pity the fool...

[PNWest]

Thanks Louie. With people like you in congress it's only a matter of time till we get real gun control. Keep on talking.

[Zazziness]

Unfortunately, we've also got a lot of folks who think their interpretation of Christian law should replace the Constitution and they're often the ones most adamant that they have to keep their guns. It's disturbing.

[kyrebel]

Oh yeah let's try an interpretation of muslim law....hmmm let's chop off some hands....let's chop off some heads. Yep that will do it. By the way it's either bushes fault it the Christians fault. Lets blame the Christians.

Yeah we should keep our guns. Unless you would like to live under muslim leadership. If you would like the muslim rule, then you would find guns in Christians hands disturbing.

America has always been about guns and Christian leadership. I find it disturbing that people would want to change it.

[Zazziness]

@kyrebel I find guns in the hands of theocrats disturbing and I'm under no illusions that fundamentalist Christians are any less oppressive or violent than fundamentalist Muslims. They share their fanaticism. Your view that America "has always been about guns and Christian leadership" is way off-base and the fact you believe it illustrates the point I made was true.

[kyrebel]

@Zazziness well I don't know how it is for everyone. Here in my part of Kentucky it's about hunting, fishing, going to work, going to church on Sunday, and believing in God. So if that makes me some evil fundamentalist Christian, then oh well. I guess the next time my church gets together and everyone brings a dish of food. And we all sit around and laugh and tell old stories about when we was younger. Then have prayer before our meal.

I'll just think of how evil and corrupt, my Christian brothers and sisters and myself are. I'll try to work on not being a Christian fundamentalist.

[Zazziness]

@kyrebel I'm sure fanatical Muslims also love their families and enjoy sharing meals with their friends. I'm sure they have hobbies and jobs and interests that are perfectly innocuous. And as long as either group in America keeps their religion out of our laws, I have no complaints.
But as soon as you try to convert everyone in the country by replacing our Constitution with your religious laws, you're a danger no matter which religion you are following.
(FYI, on the subject of "guns and Christianity" in America -- did you know that many of the Christian groups which first came to America were adamant pacifists because of their Christianity? Don't assume you speak for all Christians. Not by a long shot, no pun intended.)

[kyrebel]

@Zazziness let's see a religious law...hmm.. thou shall no steal.. is that in the constitution? I don't know, should be though. Hmmm.. thou shall not kill..I can't think where that one is either. How about..thou shall not commit adultery.. I don't think that's in the constitution either. These laws don't have to be in the constitution because they are common sense. They are taught to keep society from falling apart, when you are taught right from wrong.

I don't speak for all Christians but I've never shot anyone or flew a plane into any building either. Yes the pilgrims did come to America to escape the catholic church and worship the way they wanted. Yes they was pacifist people too, but they did bring guns with them.

People who come up with laws and vote on the laws are going to vote based on there view if the law is right or wrong. If they agree or disagree with it. So people raised in a Christian setting will look at the law from a Christian point of view.

If it wasn't guns it would be bows and arrows,swords,knife, rocks, or sticks. People just need to try to get along and coexist. Whether you be Christians or Muslims. Problem is for thousands of years they have been fighting over religion and they will probably keep fighting for thousands of more years. It's just the way it is. Just got to keep praying and have faith.

[marine1]

And we wonder why this country is in the crapper

[PoliticalSpice]

I voted he should keep talking. Guess why. You can not make this stuff up...

Maybe use a poster of this guy and play excerpts on tv throughout the 2014 through 2016 election with the tag line: congressional republican

[SignifiedNBlue]

Seems paranoid schizo but no less than most liberals. Defending the second amendment need not include anything but.. He could use a hair piece perhaps wearing one of those muslim scarfs might help lol

[marine1]

To all you political mental midgets. I want to keep my gun because I want to keep my F-ing gun, is that simple enough for you ALL to understand?

[zachsquatch]

Apparently it's not.

[keyfitter]

I second that! Semper Fi

[AMSCountryboy]

Wish i could vote that up 1000x sir. I want to keep my guns and that is my right...no other argument should be needed

[earl]

Hear, hear!. It's a Bill of Rights, not a bill of needs.

[jessejaymes]

There you have it. Amen, glory hallelujah, Ali Ali akbur or ali baba and the 40 thieves (whichever comes first)

[zachsquatch]

More random than a Sienfield episode.

[AnnieO]

He looks creepy in that photo.

[AlexMIA]

We need guns to protect us from any would be inappropriate law in general!

[Knightkore]

Yes....that's why I agree with him....I would add we need guns to protect us and little girls in wheel chairs from TSA as well....

[AlexMIA]

@Knightmare Not far off, I'd be suspisious of the entire department of Homeland Security. Wheelchair or not!

[Litdes]

No we don't, we have the 1st Amendment to protect us from Sharia Law. What we need are articulate individuals, and sufficient education to ensure a constant stream of the aforementioned, to ensure that we follow the mandates of our Constitution.

[Arumizy]

Politicians both on the left and right have stabbed the constitution to near death already, what we need is to start electing reps who actually believe in it again.

[Litdes]

@Arumizy Not so much. Feel free to cite specific examples. The only one I can really think of is the Patriot Act.

[Drake_Burrwood]

Which is true only so long as they are not burned at the stake, beheaded, or shot by a grandchild of mine kidnapped at gun point and trained to kill enemies of political militia/brigands. You have a right to speak, and if someone chooses to kill you to stop it, I have a right to "stop" them.
No, religious law except for its practitioners, and only so long as they are.

[Litdes]

@Drake_Burrwood Of course, your statement is contingent upon the word IF. There is NO legitimate threat of Sharia law being enacted in the US. It is barred by our constitution, and there has been no legitimate attempt to enact it. What is more, "I" don't require YOUR help to protect MY free speech. Thanks for the offer, I'm doing fine on my own.

[Drake_Burrwood]

@Litdes and I pray that continues to be the case, I also pray that if it changes that someone of any persuasion is there for you and yours.

[Colin2k41]

He was using Sharia law as an example for chrissake

[cpeter133]

Yes...it's not just sharia law, but space aliens...thy'll break out of Area 51 eventually...and the Illuminati, those sneaky bastards...and...and....and...

[Drake_Burrwood]

@cpeter133
And ZOMBIES.

[cpeter133]

@Drake_Burrwood No, he depends on them to vote for him...:)

[Colin2k41]

@cpeter133 hahahaha

[jessejaymes]

Oh great. Another of the great state of rednecks, er Texas heard from. Way to go bubba. You right wingers keep on flapping your gums like you're on about a pound of peyote and they'll take our guns. Just because you right wingers can't stop sounding like lunatics that shouldn't have guns.

[DARSB]

I'd like a law to protect me from Louie Gohmert.

[jessejaymes]

Myself I'm touch typing. I think just went blind from the shine off that head. Turtle wax you suppose?

[Medicinebow]

Feel free to exercise your rights as necessary !! Fortunately he's in Texas...you should be safe.

[DARSB]

@Medicinebow Stupid knows no boundaries - and if the winds are just right nobody's safe. :-)

[jessejaymes]

@DARSB Did you hear a fellow poster turned me into the ATF for having guns and a medical marijuana card? I'm a hardened felon it turns out. Who knew? You might want to reconsider that law in Colorado. You're making way too many felons in Colorado.

[DARSB]

@jessejaymes we do what we can... :-)

[Roco]

Look at this guy's eyes. He has the crazed looney look. By the way, I haven't heard in the last year of anything about sharia law. Can someone enlighten me if I missed anything?

[MongoAPillager]

http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/ type your state in search box

[PoliticalSpice]

I voted he should keep talking. Guess why.

And was the radio guy he was talking to really called akins?

You can not make this stuff up...

[RoyFloyd]

To the Christian right, what's wrong with Sharia law? Old testament-based, misogynist, eye-for-an-eye. Stonings, whippings, amputations, capital punishment for all sorts of crimes, it certainly isn't for bleeding-heart liberal weenies. Get rid of that Arabic name and call it something else, but what's there for a good radical American Christian not to love?

[jessejaymes]

And make no mistake about it, the Christian right would be beheading "heathens" if they thought they could get away with it.

[cnw95]

Old testament law is no longer observed.
The change occurred when Jesus came and created a new church whose foundation is LOVE and FORGIVENESS. IE:turn the other cheek)
He spread the word that old testament law was not to be observed anymore.
This is why the jews wanted to kill him.

[DARSB]

@cnw95 "The change occurred when Jesus came and created a new church whose foundation is LOVE and FORGIVENESS. IE:turn the other cheek)"

I'm sure the people on the short end of the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, and the apparently endless Catholic priest child rapist crime wave will be happy to hear this.

[cpeter133]

@cnw95 Then why are most christians still pushing the 10 commandments?

[Cheenoguy]

@cpeter133
What he meant to say that they can now select which things in the OT they want to consider to be still required.
Never hear a preacher point out tithing was an OT thing.

[Dan_Tien]

He is a good example to counteract Texans' assertions that Texas is the state with the most common sense in America.

[Vance1]

"we have got to have at least 50 rounds in our magazines because on average that's about how many it takes to bring down a drone."

AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!!!
Obama + Liberals = Tyrannical Government

[AlexMIA]

That part was kinda stupid. You're not going to be able to take a predator out with fifty rounds on any gun unless you have a significantly large and long reaching caliber and you get lucky. I'd file that one with Biden's shotgun statement.

[Starsplash]

Is it me or is this dumbass missing the point entirely?