Rep. Allen West (R-FL) says that if the government is going to mandate that people purchase health care coverage then they should also require that everyone buy a Glock 9mm handgun.

During a campaign rally in Florida on Sunday, West told supporters that it was “unconscionable” that the Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama’s health insurance mandate as a tax.

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“What will be next?” the congressman wondered. “If you don’t buy a certain type of green card, they will tax you. If you don’t buy a certain type of food, they will tax you.”

“Well, I got a great idea,” West continued. “I believe for personal security, every American should have to go out and buy a Glock 9mm. And if you don’t do it, we’ll tax you. Now, I wonder how the liberals will feel about that one.”

The tea party darling went on to blast both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate for voting 64-35 to pass a farm bill last week without more drastic cuts to the food stamp program.

“This is not about party, this is about principle,” he explained. “This is about understanding what limited government really is and what fiscal responsibility is.”

West also ripped Obama’s tax proposals, claiming the “president has a sign up that says America is not open for business.”

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“Obviously he does not understand that small business owners operate from a personal income tax rate,” he insisted. “So when you want to raise those personal income tax rates, the top brackets, from 33 percent up to 37 percent, from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, you’re talking about affecting the very people that are the economic engine of this country.”

“Why? It’s very simple. He does not want you to have the self esteem of getting up and earning and having that title of American. He would rather you be his slave.”

Watch this video, recorded July 1, 2012.

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