The Soviets pulled much of the same nonsense, using such tactics as requiring people of the occupied satellites to store their weapons at ranges (then simply taking them). Americans should remember that our country was born of a war that started not with taxes or tea, but when British troops moved to take the arsenal at Concord. Prior to that there was discussion, debate, etc., but the colonists knew that without weapons they would be “subjects” forever.
Leftists are Leftist no matter if it is a Hitler, a Stalin, or others. The pattern repeats almost always in the same manner.