DEARBORN, MI -- U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn), the longest serving House member in history, doesn't intend to retire any time soon, the 86-year-old

told WJR's Paul W. Smith

Tuesday morning.

"I'm not pulling a Pope Benedict," Dingell said.

The 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday during a meeting of Vatican cardinals that he plans to resign Feb. 28, saying his deteriorating health has diminished his ability to continue as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

"I'm not about to quarrel with him on his reasons," Dingell said. "The stairs do get a little higher as you get older, but I'm still climbing them."

Dingell, who has been serving in Congress since he was 29, has been active in the gun control debate as a proud gun owner on the Democratic side of the aisle.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn

"Balance is everything," he told WJR. "And we're going to try to see to it that those who are not entitled to have firearms under the law don't get them. I'm one of those who has been out tightening up the (National) Instant Check System, or the

NICS

, to see to it that the bad guys don't get the guns for the sporting and defense purposes.

"And I'm hopeful that in this process we're going to be able to accomplish that, because this is a cherished constitutional right belonging to our people."

Dingell, who is of Polish decent, sent Smith a dozen Paczki ahead of the interview in celebration of Paczki Day.

"I'm very, very proud of my heritage," he said. "Some people call them cast-iron doughnuts. But they're not. They're really great and as long as you have one, you're going to have a great day."

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.