--- title: Ben Carson: Holocaust Would Be 'Diminished' if Jews Had Guns description: Carson has faced scrutiny for multiple statements about guns this week, including a recent story about a robbery in a Baltimore Popeyes canonical: https://time.com/4067501/ben-carson-holocaust-popeyes/ author: Maya Rhodan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-09T01:50:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:32:17.431Z article:section: Politics og:title: Ben Carson Says Holocaust Would Be 'Diminished' if Jews Had Guns og:description: The Anti-Defamation League said Carson was "historically inaccurate." og:url: https://time.com/4067501/ben-carson-holocaust-popeyes/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6db2b81572d2fb4/698867960a4a2284679c67c4/2015-10-05t230102z_1682465706_gf100002.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3500 og:image:height: 1969 og:image:alt: U.S. Republican candidate Dr. Carson speaks during an appearance on Fox News Channel's 'Hannity' in New York og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Ben Carson Says Holocaust Would Be 'Diminished' if Jews Had Guns twitter:description: The Anti-Defamation League said Carson was "historically inaccurate." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6db2b81572d2fb4/698867960a4a2284679c67c4/2015-10-05t230102z_1682465706_gf100002.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 00:51 video:published: 2015-09-21 section: politics topics: presidential faith, religious tests for office, Islam and the Constitution, American values, 2016 Republican primary, Muslims in government genre: interview, political debate tones: confrontational, firm, direct emotions: defiance (medium), concern (medium), certainty (high) sentiment: negative audience: US voters, political news followers, political analysts, religious communities people: Ben Carson, Donald Trump content_suitability: hate [00:36-00:51]; politics [00:01-00:51] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Ben Carson Says Holocaust Would Have Been 'Greatly Diminished' if Jews Had Guns > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f9722e24-f7ef-42b4-8128-43ce9a42c074&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7nmOLMvX.m3u8) (0:51)  _Published 2015-09-21. Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President_ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary A short clip in which an interviewer asks whether a president's faith should matter to voters, and the speaker, Ben Carson, responds that faith matters if it is inconsistent with American values and the Constitution. When asked whether Islam is consistent with the Constitution, he says no and states he would not advocate putting a Muslim in charge of the nation. The clip opens mid-discussion with a reference to a questioner who claimed a president was Muslim. ## Key points - Carson says whether a voter's faith matters depends on what that faith is. (00:12) - Carson says faith should matter if it is inconsistent with the values and principles of America. (00:15) - Carson says faith that fits within America and is consistent with the Constitution is no problem. (00:26) - Asked whether Islam is consistent with the Constitution, Carson answers, "No, I do not." (00:36) - Carson says he would not advocate putting a Muslim in charge of the nation. (00:40) - Carson states he absolutely would not agree with placing a Muslim in charge of the country. (00:44) - The segment opens with a reference to Donald Trump and a questioner who claimed the president was Muslim. (00:01) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:12] Opening reference to Trump and questioner. The clip opens with a reference to Donald Trump and a questioner who claimed the president was Muslim. - [00:12 to 00:26] Whether faith should matter to voters. Carson discusses whether a president's faith and a voter's faith should matter, depending on its consistency with American values and the Constitution. - [00:26 to 00:51] Carson on Islam and the presidency. Asked whether Islam is consistent with the Constitution, Carson says no and states he would not put a Muslim in charge of the nation. ## Key quotes - [00:12] interviewer: "should a president's faith matter?" - [00:15] Ben Carson: "If it's inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter." - [00:36] interviewer: "So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution?" - [00:40] Ben Carson: "No, I do not. I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation." ## Questions this video answers - Should a president's faith matter? [00:12] - Should a voter's faith matter to voters? [00:15] - Is Islam consistent with the Constitution? [00:36] - Would Ben Carson put a Muslim in charge of the nation? [00:40] ## Content suitability - hate [00:36-00:51]: Carson states he would not put a Muslim in charge of the nation, a statement targeting a religious group. - politics [00:01-00:51]: Discussion of presidential candidates, faith and voter eligibility. by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Oct 9, 2015 1:50 AM UTC Ben Carson Says the Holocaust Would Be "Greatly Diminished" if Jews Had Guns by [Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Oct 9, 2015 1:50 AM UTC Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson told [CNN’s Wolf Blitzer](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/politics/ben-carson-gun-control-2016-election/) that the Holocaust would have been “greatly diminished” had Jewish people in Europe been armed with guns. “I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people had been armed,” Carson said. “I’m telling you there is a reason these dictatorial people take guns first.” Carson also partly blames the horror of the Holocaust on Nazi gun control laws in his latest book, _A Perfect Union_, but his statements Thursday, along with many others he’s made this week on guns, were swiftly attacked. According to [ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ben-carson-suggests-holocaust-jews-armed/story?id=34349693), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said Carson’s statements were “historically inaccurate.” “The small number of personal firearms available to Germany’s Jews in 1938 could in no way have stopped the totalitarian power of the Nazi German state,” said ADL national director Jonathan Greenblatt. The Holocaust comment was only the latest of Carson’s recent statements on firearms. The retired neurosurgeon also faced criticism on Thursday for statements he made on a SiriusXM radio show about a time he faced a gun in a Baltimore Popeyes restaurant. ### See Ben Carson's Life in Photos  An early childhood photograph of Ben Carson. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Ben Carson's graduation from Southwestern High School, Detroit circa 1969. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Ben Carson with his mother, Sonya, and his future wife, Candy after his graduation from Yale University, circa 1973. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Dr. Donlin Long, director of neurosurgery, left, and Dr. Ben Carson director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, with brain model of the Siamese twins separated in a 22-hour surgery at Hopkins, Sept. 7, 1987, in Baltimore. Fred Kraft—AP  Dr. Ben Carson shares his personal story with middle school students on March 17, 2000 in Roswell, N.M. Aaron J. Walker—AP  Dr Dennis Rohner, Dr Beat Hammer, Dr Ivan Ng, Dr Ben Carson, Prof. Walter Tan, and Dr Keith Goh rehearse an operation to separate conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani from Iran at Raffles Hospital on July 5, 2003 in Singapore. Reuters  Dr. Keith Goh (left) adjusts the frame on conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani as Dr. Ben Carson observes the start of neurosurgery proceedings at the Raffles Hospital on July 6, 2003 in Singapore. Getty Images  Ten-year-old Indian twins Sabah and Farah sit beside Ben Carson (C), Managing Director, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, Anne Marie Moncure, their father Shakeel (L), their brother (R) and senior child specialist of Apollo Hospital, Dr. Anupan Sibal, on Oct. 4, 2005 in New Delhi. Raveendran—AFP/Getty Images  George W. Bush presents a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson for his work with neurological disorders on June 19, 2008 at the White House in Washington. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Ben Carson officially announces his candidacy for President of the United States on May 4, 2015 in Detroit. Bill Pugliano—Getty Images  Ben Carson poses for a photo during the Iowa Republican Party's Lincoln Dinner on May 16, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Ben Carson speaks during the Energizing America Gala at the 2015 Southern Republican Leadership Conference May 22, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Ben Carson at a political fund-raiser for GOP candidates on June 6, 2015, in Boone, Iowa. Jabin Bostford—The Washington Post/Getty Images  Republican presidential candidates from left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kasich take the stage for the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Andrew Harnik—AP  Ben Carson prays during church services at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines , Iowa. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Ben Carson rides the Sky Glider with a reporter while touring the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Ben Carson and his wife Candy on Aug. 18, 2015 in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin—AP  Ben Carson is greeted by supporters at a rally on Aug. 27, 2015 in Little Rock, Ark. Danny Johnston—AP  Ben Carson at a service at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines. Daniel Acker—Bloomberg/Getty Images Carson recalled his Popeyes stickup experience during a Wednesday [interview](http://blog.siriusxm.com/2015/10/08/how-ben-carson-reacted-when-held-up-at-gunpoint/) with _Urban View_ host Karen Hunter. “I have had a gun held on me when I was in a Popeyes organization,” said Carson. “The guy comes in, put the gun in my ribs. And I just said, ‘I believe that you want the guy behind the counter.’” The Baltimore Police Department said it did not have enough information to confirm Carson’s story. > [](https://twitter.com/BaltimorePolice/status/652215896866455552) **Read More:** [_See Ben Carson’s Life in Photos_](http://time.com/4035573/ben-carsons-life-in-photos/) The Police Department explained on Twitter it had received “multiple media requests” in response to Carson’s interview, but without a date and time they could not confirm its validity. Carson was pressed about the statements on Thursday during an appearance on Michael Smerconish’s radio program, given the leading candidate’s critique of the Oregon community-college shooting victims earlier this week. “I would not just stand there and let him shoot me,” Carson told Fox News on Tuesday, referencing the Oregon shooting. “I would say: ‘Hey, guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me, but he can’t get us all.’” Carson said Thursday the two situations were “different.” “They’re two very different situations. You’ve got a crazy person who’s shooting people and is clearly going to continue to do that vs. somebody who’s coming in to try to get a little bit of cash,” Carson said. “Now I’m not justifying the fact that he’s coming in to rob the place, but you’ve got to be able to distinguish between somebody who’s trying to rob a joint and somebody who is trying to kill you.” ### See the Covers of the 2016 Presidential Hopefuls' Memoirs  The cover of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 2014 book "Hard Choices" is a classic of the political memoir genre: The politician's face, front and center with a strong but vague title beneath.  Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina's 2007 book "Tough Choices" followed the same playbook as Clinton's, even down to the similar titles.  Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson's 2014 book "One Nation" is a variation on the theme, the crossed arms and the subtitle underlining the message, since he's not been a politician before.  Former New York Gov. George Pataki's 1998 autobiography, "Pataki," presents him as such a towering figure that he doesn't even need a regular title.  Other politicians go for a softer touch with a more autobiographical book to help voters learn more about who they are, as in Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's 2013 memoir, "An American Son."  South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham's 2015 e-book, "My Story," takes a similar approach.  Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's 2005 book, "Rick Santorum," is less autobiographical, but the cover also goes for the soft touch.  Some books zero in on a specific image. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's 2015 book, "God, Guns, Grits and Gravy" and the photo of him, tieless, in a pastoral scene, sells him as an avatar of rural America.  Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's 2014 book defends the Boy Scouts, reinforcing the fact that he's an Eagle Scout and a cultural conservative.  And business mogul Donald Trump's 1988 book, "The Art of the Deal," sells his image as a dealmaker so much that he still references it today.  Other candidates aim to show they are leaders, as in Ohio Gov. John Kasich's 2006 book, "Stand for Something."  Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's 2015 book, "Taking a Stand," goes a similar route, though the subtitle, "Moving Beyond Partisan Politics," gives it a slightly different spin.  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's 2015 book also pitches him as a truth teller, with a casual portrait and the title "A Time for Truth." AP  Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee's 2010 book, "Against the Tide," also promotes him as willing to go it alone, in this case referencing his vote against the Iraq war.  Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's 2014 book, "Unintimidated," goes the same route, promoting his fight against labor unions. Penguin Group/AP  And Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2010 book, "Leadership and Crisis," adds a photo of first responders to bring to mind natural disasters.  But the cover of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' 1998 memoir shows that he really does go his own way. It breaks all the design rules, looking more like an airport thriller. ## Transcript [00:01] Wrap this up by finally dealing with what's been going on, [00:04] Donald Trump in a [ UNKNOWN ] questioner that [00:09] claimed that the president was Muslin. Let me ask you the [00:12] question this way, should a president's faith matter? [00:15] Should your faith matter to voters? I guess it depends on [00:19] what that faith is. If it's inconsistent with [00:23] the values and principles of America, then of course it [00:26] should matter. But if it fits within the realm of [00:32] America and consistent with the Constitution, no problem. [00:36] So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the [00:40] Constitution? No, I do not. I would not [00:44] advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I [00:48] absolutely would not agree with that. And you ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4067501/ben-carson-holocaust-popeyes/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4067501/ben-carson-holocaust-popeyes/"},"headline":"Ben Carson Says Holocaust Would Have Been 'Greatly Diminished' if Jews Had Guns","datePublished":"2015-10-09T01:50:27.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-05T08:32:17.431Z","description":"Carson has faced scrutiny for multiple statements about guns this week, including a recent story about a robbery in a Baltimore Popeyes","url":"https://time.com/4067501/ben-carson-holocaust-popeyes/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election","Dr. Benjamin S. 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