California Dem declares that the United States would win a "short war" against gun rights advocates: "The government has a nuclear weapon"

US Representative Eric Swalwell said Friday that the US government would use its nuclear weapons in a hypothetical war against Second Amendment supporters who refused to surrender their guns.

The California Democrat, who is openly considering running for the Democratic Party in the presidential election in 2020, made this strange remark about social media after a gun rights activist pointed out that the legislator had a day asked the gun owners to surrender their weapons.

So @RepSwalwell basically wants a war. Because that's what you will get. You're out of your f —— mind if you think I'm going to give up my rights and give the [government] all the power, "Joe Biggs tweeted to Swalwell.

This prompted Swalwell to defend himself, claiming that it would be a "short war" because "the government has nuclear weapons," implying that he would use his nuclear arsenal against his own citizens.

The comment immediately provoked negative reactions, with thousands of people criticizing the legislator for this ill-conceived remark.

"Here is a US Congressman talking about using nuclear weapons against Americans," Freddoso wrote.

"Personally, I have a big problem with an elected official who talks gleefully about hitting his fellow Americans than my neighbor with an AR-15," Cam Edwards tweeted.

Swalwell – a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee – attempted to defuse the situation, saying that the need for a firearm to protect against the government was "ridiculous" and was suggested that if a ban on assault weapons was applied, people would only follow the law.

He later clarified that he was just facetious in his suggestion regarding the use of nuclear weapons. "I'm sarcastic[ed] out of the United States does not lose to his assault weapon (this is not the 18th century), "he wrote.

Meanwhile, Swalwell appeared on HBO's show "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, talking about his potential project to run for president, saying he "is considering it." The legislator, who will turn 40 in November 2020, would be the youngest ever presidential candidate.

He also expressed his disapproval of his California Democratic colleague Nancy Pelosi, supporting her as Speaker of the House and promising to use the majority of the Democratic House to investigate President Trump and press the President to he produces his tax returns.