ZumaPress.comLike most Americans, Jason Alexander was horrified by last Friday's massacre at the Dark Knight Rises midnight screening in Aurora, Colo.
So much so that in its wake, the Seinfeld star took to Twitter to offer his two cents on how lax gun laws in the U.S. may have contributed to the violence.
And for expressing his views, Alexander now reveals he's been the target of threats himself. Here's the deal:
In a tweet that stirred intense reaction online, the 52-year-old actor wondered why some of his fellow citizens seemingly don't have a problem with the fact the accused gunman, James Holmes, was able to so easily and legally obtain the semi-assault weapon he used in the horrendous attack.
"I cannot understand support for legality of the kind of weapon in this massacre. It's a military weapon. Why should it be in non-mil hands?" he tweeted.
Alas, that simple question didn't go over so well with gun owners and gun rights activists, a few of whom even sent him death threats. That prompted Alexander to issue a lengthy defense. After expressing his sympathies with the victims and their families, he clarified his earlier comment and debated his critics on the constitutional right to bear arms.
"There have been many tweets of agreement and sympathy but many, many more that have been challenging at the least, hostile and vitriolic at the worst," the funnyman said. "Clearly, the angry, threatened and threatening, hostile comments are coming from gun owners and gun advocates."
He went on: "Despite these massacres recurring and despite the 100,000 Americans that die every year due to domestic gun violence—these people see no value to even considering some kind of control as to what kinds of weapons are put in civilian hands."
After suggesting that most gun owners don't meet the definition of being in a "well regulated Militia" that's enshrined in the Constitution, Alexander waded into the gun-control discussion that's arisen since the tragedy.
"These are the weapons that maniacs acquire to wreak murder and mayhem on innocents. They are not the same as handguns to help homeowners protect themselves from intruders," Alexander wrote. "They are not the same as hunting rifles or sporting rifles. These weapons are designed for harm and death on big scales."
The erstwhile George Constanza concluded by telling his detractors that if they don't like his views, they're free to "not watch my stuff," unfollow him or continue the name-calling.
"But this is not the time for reasonable people, on both sides of this issue, to be silent," added Alexander. "We owe it to the people whose lives were ended and ruined yesterday to insist on a real discussion and hopefully on some real action."