Weapons & Guns

Alaskan Congressman Don Young says if Jewish people in Nazi Germany were armed, they could have prevented the Holocaust -- and that's his argument against gun control.

The U.S. representative was fielding questions about how to make schools safer in the wake of the Parkland, FL mass shooting when he floated his jaw-dropping theory. He was responding last week to Dimitri Shein, a democrat running for Young's seat, who recorded their heated exchange.

Young actually said, "How many Jews were put into the ovens because they were unarmed?"

Young is an NRA member who's down with arming school teachers. He's said video games and the breakdown of American families are to blame for epidemic gun violence. In video of his town hall-style meeting (around 2:10), Young added ... 50 million Russians were killed because they didn't have guns.

There was plenty of vocal support for Young's theories during the meeting.

For what it's worth, there was a Nazi law prohibiting Jews from owning guns -- but remember, they would have been battling Hitler's army, which was steamrolling entire countries.

Dan Rather's not buying President Trump rushing into the Florida high school to stop the mass shooter -- he says history shows that's just not his style.

We got the legendary CBS anchor in NYC Tuesday, and asked him to assess Trump's claim -- "I really believe I'd run in there, even if I didn't have a weapon." Rather started to say he wants to be respectful of the office of the Presidency ... then dropped a BIG ol' but.

He says Trump had a chance to stand up and show his bravery during the Vietnam War, but "ducked" it. Dan does acknowledge that was a long time ago, and the Prez could have changed.

Some of the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High are planning on using their newfound star power to get their gun control message out ... through a good page-turner.

Sources tell TMZ that at least two of the outspoken survivors have been in talks with publishers for book deals. The deals haven't been inked ... the students are in the meeting phase with book honchos.

We're also told that some of the students have been getting help from high-profile publicists to field requests and schedule media appearances. A lot of these kids have been all over the news lately, so it'd make sense they're not handling all these bookings solo.

According to our sources ... the point of this publicity push is to get their message across loud and clear -- real gun control is needed now, and they're insistent in bringing about change. One downside ... the kids haven't really had a chance to properly grieve.

As for book money ... we're not sure how much a deal would net the 2 survivors. We're told they'd likely donate the cash to March for Our Lives ... which is taking place in D.C. next month.

Kim Zolciak's little girl is now a grown ass, pistol-packing mama, and her mom wouldn't have it any other way ... TMZ has learned.

Brielle Biermann turned 21 on Sunday, and when she got home on Monday ... Kim was waiting with her gift -- a brand new customized Glock 43, complete with rose gold slide. Brielle seemed a little nervous around the weapon at first, but Kim said it's important for her to have it ... now that Brielle's living in her own condo.

We're told Brielle's practiced at a gun range before. She doesn't have a license yet, but Georgia doesn't require one if it's stored in a home, car or place of business.

BB also got some pieces of art, which look like molds of topless women, and set Kim back $5,550 each! The handgun was a relative bargain at just $1,300.

Vic Mensa says he can see right through President Trump, and insists arming teachers to deter school shootings isn't a real game plan ... it's just a distraction from the assault weapons issue.

The Chicago rapper was in WeHo Monday when we asked him about the President's suggestion teachers should be packing heat, and Vic's convinced it's "not a real logical solution."

He believes Trump floated that idea as an NRA-sponsored ploy, and fixing the issue is a lot simpler than people make it out to be. He also reminded us, as a licensed gun owner -- who's facing a weapons charge -- he's all about the 2nd Amendment.

FedEx will not follow in the footsteps of dozens of other corporations who have chosen to cut ties with the NRA.

The shipping company has been pressured by thousands to stop giving discounted rates to members of the NRA ... with many people threatening to stop using the company altogether.

FedEx execs just issued a statement, saying, "FedEx is a common carrier under Federal law and therefore does not and will not deny service or discriminate against any legal entity regardless of their policy positions or political views."

The statement continues, "FedEx has never set or changed its rates for any of our millions of customers around the world in response to their politics, beliefs or positions on issues."

A disturbing new twist in the Jonathan Martin saga ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports the ex-NFL lineman had a gun in his possession when he was detained by police.

As we previously reported ... cops tracked down the former Miami Dolphins player Friday after he posted a photo on IG showing a shotgun and ammo -- along with a threatening message and the names of former teammates and high school acquaintances.

We're told cops believe Martin had recently purchased two weapons -- one of which matched up with the gun in the IG post. Sources tell us when they found him on Friday, he had a gun in his car that fit the description police had.

Multiple sources also tell TMZ Sports Martin is currently undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

Of course, Martin was at the center of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal in 2013, and had accused multiple teammates of physically and emotionally abusing him.

Eagles RB LeGarrette Blount's deeply disturbed by the situation with ex-NFL lineman Jonathan Martin, but hopes catching an early warning sign is good for everyone ... including Martin.

We got Blount at LAX Friday and talked about the troubling gun photo JM posted on IG -- which cops are treating as a serious threat ... he tells us he believes the guy needs some serious help.

LeGarrette says he can't really relate to Martin's history of being bullied because it didn't happen to him, but he's witnessed it for others ... and suggests it could be contributing to Jonathan's behavior.

What's interesting is he seems to imply that Martin's bullying case in 2013 helped alleviate the issue in the NFL overall -- he says it's almost nonexistent today.

The LAPD does not believe ex-NFL player Jonathan Martin's gun photo on Instagram was a harmless social media prank -- they're treating it as a "serious threat" ... this according to sources directly involved in the investigation.

Multiple sources tell TMZ Sports ... Martin recently purchased 2 firearms -- and the gun pictured appears to match up with one of the guns he recently bought.

We're told police are working with all 4 individuals tagged in Martin's post to make sure they're safe.

As we previously reported ... Martin was detained by police Friday after word spread of his threatening post. Harvard-Westlake School in L.A. -- which Martin also mentioned in his IG pic -- cancelled classes Friday out of an abundance of caution.

Melania Trump's all bark and no bite, according to a Florida school shooting survivor who says the First Lady whiffed on a chance to denounce cyberbullying from her own own family member ... Donald Trump Jr.

Lauren Hogg tells TMZ ... Melania's failed to step up after Trump Jr. hit the "like" button on a pair of tweets bashing Lauren's brother, David ... who also survived the shooting. The tweets accused David -- who's been very vocal about the need for new gun laws -- of running damage control for the FBI, and being a tool for mainstream media.

Lauren's adamant ... the First Family owes the Hogg family an apology "because (Donald Jr.) in a way kicked a wound that hasn't healed yet." She also finds Melania's silence odd, considering she tours the country talking about the need to stop bullies.

She adds, "I absolutely think it is cowardly for the first family to not condemn the accusations and trolls who are cyber bullying us.”

Ex-NFL player Jonathan Martin -- who was at the center of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal -- has been detained by police ... after he allegedly posted a disturbing photo of a gun, ammo and the names of ex-NFL teammates.

The post first appeared on Martin's Instagram account -- showing an image of a shotgun surrounded by ammunition with the caption, "When you're a bully victim & a coward your options are suicide, or revenge."

He also listed social media handles for ex-Dolphins teammates Richie Incognito and Mike Pouncey.

Martin also posted the name of his former high school -- Harvard Westlake -- one of the most exclusive private schools in the country.

Harvard Westlake closed the school in the wake of the threats -- telling students to stay off-campus in an abundance of caution.

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports ... "The individual we believe to be responsible for the social media post has been detained and the investigation is ongoing."

Martin famously accused Incognito and Pouncey of physically and emotionally abusing him during his stint on the Miami Dolphins in 2013.

The players claimed they were just harmlessly hazing Martin.

Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele actually likes one of President Trump's ideas, but that doesn't mean they're on the same page ... at all.

We got the popular Republican pundit at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near D.C. Thursday and asked him about Trump's pitch to pay teachers a bonus to carry guns in schools ... he likes exactly half of that plan.

Steele tells us there should be absolutely no guns in the classroom, and sounds pretty miffed it's even being considered. As he puts it ... it's bad policy and "opens up a Pandora's box of problems this country just does not need."

Lauren Hogg, a survivor of the Florida shooting, has a strong message for President Trump and lawmakers ... change, or else.

Lauren lost 4 of her friends in the attack last week and is laser-focused on putting an end to the violence. She believes her generation will be the one to step up and do what adults have blocked ... impose strict gun laws ... especially on assault rifles.

The 14-year-old makes one thing very clear -- she believes the majority of the nation is behind her cause, and if politicians don't listen up, their jobs are at stake.

Lauren's brother, David Hogg, has also been extremely vocal since Wednesday's massacre, appearing on numerous shows and squaring off with the NRA in promoting change.

Tekashi69 -- aka 6ix9ine -- isn't letting a little thing like gang threats or that huge LAX brawl, stop him from taking the stage in San Antonio ... TMZ has learned.

6ix9ine is still scheduled to perform at Bar 23 Thursday night ... according to a manager there, he is upping security due to a threat from San Antonio's Tango Orejon gang.

Purported members of the gang posted a Facebook video Sunday, telling 6ix9ine he's banned from their city and would get "f***** up" if he shows his mug.

The gang threat refers to the charges 6ix9ine pled guilty to in 2015, involving a minor. Prosecutors say he was recorded groping a nude 13-year-old girl. As the gang members put it, "Penitentiary rules are in effect."

We're told the club's main goal is to keep everyone at the venue safe, and to get 6ix9ine in and out without incident. The manager also tells us they've notified local police about the threat.

As for 6ix9ine ... he seems to be going forward with his tour, full steam. He was just in Dallas Wednesday night, and teased his performance in San Antonio.

David Hogg's mother worries her son is going 1,000 MPH in his quest for gun control, but she also knows his time to act is NOW.

Hogg's mother, Rebecca, tells us David hasn't stopped making the media rounds advocating for new gun legislation after Nikolas Cruz brutally murdered 17 people from his high school last week in Parkland, Florida.

But, while the grieving process is imperative, Rebecca also understands David and every other student-turned-activist is doing right by their late classmates to keep the issue relevant in the news in order to see real change.

T.I. says it's time for the U.S.A. to reexamine its gun laws in the wake of the Florida shooting ... but he doesn't wanna lose his right to bear arms.

We got Tip Wednesday leaving The Palm in Bev Hills, where he weighed in on the gun control debate raging in the country right now. Somewhat surprisingly, he says he's for reform.

The rapper tells us it absolutely should be more difficult for unstable people to get their hands on a firearm, and that "not being a felon isn't enough" anymore. At the same time ... he fears messing with the 2nd Amendment could lead to "enslavement" by Uncle Sam.