The Great Western Gun Show, the most popular of its kind, took place in Pomona, Calif., at the Fairplex, October 29-30s, 1999. Controversy had threatened to close it down, especially after the murderous rampage at the North Valley Jewish Community Center by Buford Furrow, a Nazi affiliated with the Aryan Nations. According to authorities, this animal was able to get his fully automatic weapon from a similar gun show.

The Jewish Defense League found itself in a weird position. JDL is a major supporter of the Bill of Rights, especially the Second Amendment. Many of our co-religionists who have no taste for weapons and are violently opposed to violence shun the thought of a Jew owning a weapon and would never think of going to a gun show.

Several days after Furrow attacked the Jewish Community Center, a major rally took place at California State University at Northridge. All the liberal Jews and anti-Second Amendment people were there in force. Featured speaker was California Governor Gray Davis, who was pleading with the elders of the Jewish community to help him get rid of all so-called "assault weapons," as if Jews owned them. As this lackluster politician was begging for more gun control, there indeed was a booming voice in opposition from the audience. It belonged to JDL chairman Irv Rubin, who was yelling "What about the Second Amendment?" Most of the Jews in attendance, all supporters of free speech (for their views only), did everything in their power to shut up Irv Rubin and/or drown him out.

Why was Irv Rubin there? Why does he believe in gun shows? Why does he believe Jews should acquire weapons? Irv Rubin has learned a most important lesson. As a Jewish activist, he is sick to death of Jews being victims. In view of what happened at the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Defense League and people of a like mind from the NRA not only believe in the Second Amendment but also the right to go to a gun show and purchase a weapon without having to wait weeks on end.

JDL stood proudly in opposition to all other Jewish organizations at the recent Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, when that body muscled through -- by a three to two decision -- an ordnance to close down the Great Western Gun Show. If it weren't for the JDL and the owners and promoters of the gun show, the most recent one would never have taken place. Lawyers representing the gun show took out a restraining order against L.A. County, allowing the event to go on. JDL's verbal support was important -- not only for the purpose of the restraining order, but for providing proof that not all Jews are anti-Second Amendment; not all Jews want to restrict fair trade. The operators and owners of the gun show expressed great pleasure that there was a vocal contingent of citizens, including the JDL, to support their right to conduct business.

The gun show proceeded, and JDL members, including Irv Rubin, paid a visit to it on the final day. Anyone would have thought that after this hard fought victory that all would be well and the gun show would have a great, record run. Little did they realize that the lowest common denominator had once again applied for booths at this show. Of course those people hate and vilify each and every Jew, no matter what the Jew stands for. Nazis, Holocaust deniers and people who put out a trashy paper called the Spotlight all were present at the gun show. As soon as JDL members had paid their admission, they were informed by supporters and NRA people that indeed these twisted scumbags had set up tables and were selling their hatred to all comers.

One table was reserved for none other than David Irving's Holocaust denial organization, which calls itself "Focal Point Publications." The table was filled with pro-Nazi posters of German officers dressed in all their Teutonic glory. Irving really likes the German look, which one psychologist has described as "a psycho-sexual infatuation." Irving, a notorious self-described "historian," who tried to convince Europe more than a decade ago that he had found authentic Hitler diaries (they proved to be forgeries, and he knew it), has now latched on to a movement calling itself "historical revisionism." In actuality, these people are Holocaust deniers; they make a good living selling the great lie that the great Jewish tragedy was grossly exaggerated. Irving's major claim is that four million Jews never died at Auschwitz; he claims that those who did die perished as a result of poor physical hygiene and a lack of food. This position makes Irving a very popular speaker at other Nazi organizations, including the Institute for Historical Review.

As soon as Irv Rubin saw David Irving, there was immediate mutual recognition. Rubin, after seeing Irving's pro-Nazi propaganda, looked him straight in the eye and asked, "Sprechen sie Deutsch?" (Do you speak German?) After a moronic stare a no response from this Nazi, Mr. Rubin continued, "Droppen sie dead," a famous line from the classic movie Stalag 17. One of Irving's aides immediately contacted the show's security with an urgent plea to arrest Irv Rubin for threatening the life of the so-called "historian." [If you wish to see David Irving's account of the event and his assinine explanation of what occurred there, you can take a look at the article he posted.]

As a number one proponent of the gun show, Rubin certainly didn't expect to see any Nazis selling their poisonous lies. One of the rent-a-cops asked JDL Chairman Rubin, "How do you know he's a Nazi?" Mr. Rubin responded that he was well aware of Irving's past performances in denying the Holocaust and showed him the denial literature he had picked up from Irving's table. It was obvious to Rubin that security at the gun show was kind of lax. The last thing the JDL chairman wants to see is another Buford Furrow come into a gun show and acquire another weapon or pick up more hate literature, which inspired that murderous attack at the JCC. Irving and his aides kept on telling these security cops that JDL-clad thugs threatened Irving's life. Rubin calmly and reasonably explained that the gun show was no place for Nazis. The Great Western Show's own contract states:

". . . [No] racist, ethnic, sexist, Nazi, or hate-mongering material, including but not limited to, T-shirts, magazines, videos, bumper stickers, etc.. which are deemed objectionable to Show Management will be permitted."

With this rule, common sense, and JDL's passionate support for this gun show, the league takes great pride in informing the world that David Irving will not be a merchant at the next show that will take place on December 10-12, 1999, at the same location. According to JDL sources, which are impeccable, there were a whole group of merchants at that show sharing the same murderous ideology with Irving: the glorification of Adolf Hitler. Chairman Rubin states that we may have to put up with all the Nazi memorabilia: "There are legitimate collectors of it at this show, but we will be a watchdog of the event. Our next project at the show will be getting rid of Spotlight, the Nazi newspaper owned and published by Willis Carto, the Nazi who started historical revisionism."

The most exciting news for many will be the inclusion of the Jewish Defense League at the Great Western Gun Show. Says Rubin, "We have purchased our own table, which will have JDL literature, buttons and t-shirts and other JDL merchandise. We encourage each and every Jew who has never been to a gun show to come and see what it's all about, and see what really excites the gentile about such a show. It will be an education, we promise you that."

Yes, as long as there is a JDL, JDL will support this show -- because of the Second Amendment and because of the Jewish need to defend ourselves. If there would have been just one armed security guard at the JCC, Buford would not be breathing today. As far as the use of guns is concerned, JDL believes it's better to know how and not to have to than to have to and not know how.

For those who don't believe the threat from Nazis is real, they must read the FBI report titled "Project Megiddo," available at the FBI website. "Project Megiddo" explains in detail what Nazis intend to do to Jews at the end of this century and the beginning of the next. What happened in Granada Hills at the JCC, what happened in Sacramento, where three synagogues were torched in twenty minutes, what happened in Chicago, Ill., where six unarmed Jews were shot down -- all this could prove to be child's play according to this report. The Feds are telling the Jewish people to wake up, smell the coffee; law enforcement may not be there for them. That's why Jews need to learn how to defend themselves. As JDL says, "For every Jew a .22" and "Keep alive with a .45!"