this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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Is this not the reason the second amendment exists? Regards An Australian Edit: I'm not advocating for violence. More so "a well regulated militia" which could be established by protesters or Democratic Governors for genuine self defence.

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[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 130 points 3 weeks ago (16 children)

Can’t tell if this is a sarcastic question or not but opposing the government with guns is a delusion held by conservatives who think their AR-15s have a chance against a government with drones, tanks, etc. That belief was true when the Bill of Rights was written and the military just had muskets and a couple cannons but anyone who believes that now is insane

Plus, our police shoot unarmed people and get away with it, what do you think is gonna happen if they see you open carrying?

[–] zout@fedia.io 57 points 3 weeks ago

what do you think is gonna happen if they see you open carrying?

Well, at the school shooting in Uvalde, they were quick on the scene but waited 77 minutes to do anything since there was someone with a gun inside. So, cowering away might be an option.

[–] Shiggles@sh.itjust.works 45 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Even when the government just had a couple cannons, Shay’s Rebellion didn’t exactly go great.

That being said, guns aren’t just used for open rebellion. The Panthers sure made it tough for a cop to feel like a big man just because he had a gun. If we want to examine when things get really bad, simply look at partisan resistance to the Nazis all throughout WWII.

Yes, an AR-15 won’t beat an F-16. But F-16s aren’t the ones goosestepping brown people into camps right now.

[–] SupraMario@lemmy.world 27 points 3 weeks ago (15 children)

I never understood this dumb argument from anti-2a people. We, the strongest military to have ever existed in the history of the world...lost Vietnam, lost iraq, lost Afghanistan, and tied in Korea.

Planes can't patrol street corners. You need boots and they need to be willing to kill their countrymen and be doing it for a paycheck.

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[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 29 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

As a European I wonder this too. Like they are ultimately human (ICE) so they'd think (I mean they have at least survival brain functions) twice if they can "arrest"/harass someone with a gun vs someone without one.

Right?

Also yeah we hear so fucking much about your sEcOnD aMeNdMeNt we probably believe some of it.

Cheers and good luck!

[–] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 35 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

they'd think (I mean they have at least survival brain functions) twice

No. Survival brain means that they think only once, and that thought is “eliminate the threat”. This is their training. You turn to face them, you are suddenly a threat. You scratch your nose and drop your hand back down to your side the holster is on, you are suddenly a threat “I thought they had a gun” / “I feared for my life” is probably the most invoked excuse for police killings in America.

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This is how you get killed for carrying a candy bar (esp if you're a brown person)

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 3 weeks ago

Or a hairbrush

[–] SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 weeks ago (14 children)
they are ultimately human (ICE)

Debatable

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[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 26 points 3 weeks ago (10 children)

The 2nd Amendment actually references, in its singular sentence, very specifically, that it is regarding a regulated militia, not just everyone.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Those first four words are always left out when the gun nuts talk about it. Without those 4 words, it fundamentally changes the meaning.

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[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago

The American police strike me as the type who cannot take what they're dishing out. Like if you pull a gun on them and prove you are more dangerous than they are they'd probably start crying.

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[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 55 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Look up what happened to the Black Panther Party (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party).

If people showed up organized and armed, the Federal government would be more than happy to use under the table tactics to make sure we'd never see our families again.

With that being said, I wouldn't be surprise if people are armed but just not being public about it. Armed protestors are usually the nuclear option for any movement, but it's good to have that unspoken option on the table behind the scenes.

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[–] Wakmrow@lemmy.world 52 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I'll give you a real answer instead of all of these other dork ass answers.

First, there aren't enough of us to do so.

Second, you really haven't thought through the repercussions of open carrying. Which relates to the first reason.

Open carrying puts a huge target on you. You need lots and lots of people to remain "safe". And you won't be safe. What are you going to do, shoot an ice agent if they try to arrest you? If that's your goal, why open carry? Do you think that the government here is going to suddenly follow constitutional law around a citizens right to bear arms? As they're literally illegally arresting people?

Sooner or later the amount of guns in this country is going to catch up to the ruling class but it's not going to be at a protest.

[–] BanMe@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

I live in a city that's half black, in one of several gayborhoods. I keep wondering when black and pink panthers will form and start patrolling. Probably when we get hit with our first localized stochastic terrorism incident. There's a rainbow crosswalk that rednecks love to come do burnouts on. Tensions run high with highly conservative MAGA folks dominating the rural areas just miles from our very flammable houses with rainbow flags.

But you know what happens when the panthers start patrolling? Suddenly, gun control.

Our cops wouldn't arrest them but the feds would probably escalate it. I am not sure how it'd play out today.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 46 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

There's a reason they're trying their damndest to provoke people into a shooting match but:

Yes.

However, the idea was created in mind so that everyone could be armed in case this very thing happened to occur BUT did not take into consideration advancement in technology, and the ability of the federal government to restrict arms.

Based on the photos I've seen, the feds are wearing plate carriers - level IV body armor, designed to stop a .30-06 round. If it's level 3, it's gonna stop .223 (Ar-15).

Very few citizens have automatic weapons. You can't own an RPG without the the right documents. Explosive manufacturing is dangerous, and difficult.

You can't match federal firepower with the second amendment.

The feds are currently using coward tactics. They are kidnapping people who can't afford decent housing, let alone smartphones. They go in fast, kidnap everyone, and get out. Even with armed people, they wouldn't be able to respond fast enough.

That's why all of us Americans can quickly tell when someone is just trying to start shit when they get angry online..

There are ways to fight back. But they require patience, communication, planning, subterfuge, and more importantly OPSEC. Otherwise the regime just slaughters everyone like they want to.

[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 27 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

That's why all of us Americans can quickly tell when someone is just trying to start shit when they get angry online..

There are ways to fight back. But they require patience, communication, planning, subterfuge, and more importantly OPSEC. Otherwise the regime just slaughters everyone like they want to.

Louder for the motherfuckers in the back!

There are so many fucking people online upset about this shit that amount to not much more than hot air. Chasing the perfect to the detriment of the good. Purity tests. Arguing for blatantly impossible courses of action, or at least ones that will nevet get enough buy in from the greater population to work. Sitting on their asses getting angry while worshipping some half-cocked idea of open revolution, full overthow of the government, and dissolution of the capitalist economic framework... without ever evaluating how the fuck the world could even get to that state except "magic unspecific mass violent revolution", "complete apocalypse scenario then rebuild", or "if we all wish upon a star really hard, all the bad people will have simultaneous fatal anuerysms". Not to mention how the fuck could that state ever be maintained afterwards.

If it's not outright impossible, it will require an astronomical amount of prep and planning. None of this is shit that just "happens" through sheer desire or will without slow supportive action to build what is neccessary.

People getting their emotional catharsis ranting, venting, and shit stirring without taking any true action. Stirring other people up into the same state.

Get offline, get involved locally, become an expert on the spaces and people around you. Form local connections. Accept that you aren't an action hero, and if the US military is turned on you, as a civilian you cannot win through force. Build relevant skills for a crisis. Build relevant skills for ongoing resistance. Build skills for organizing locally and securely.

Most importantly: Shut the absolute fuck up. Just shut the fuck up. As far as it's within your power, don't make yourself a target and blend in.


I'm already not a good example, as my OPSEC on this account is abysmal. I take solace in that none of my plans or actions involve abject resistance, and are all local good type shit.

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 10 points 3 weeks ago

Abject resistance is important. Connections are important. Communication is important. Logistics are important. Leave the fighting to the fighters. We're not fremen. We didn't live our whole lives to become death commandos.

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[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 36 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Because the White House is looking for an excuse to have the military start slaughtering civilians and imprisoning democrats. A general strike is what we need to do

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[–] Badabinski@kbin.earth 30 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The No Kings protest in Utah ended tragically because armed "peacekeepers" (aka armed civilians) shot at a protester who was open-carrying an AR-15 at the protest. The protester had no ill intentions, but the peacekeepers didn't know that. The peacekeepers missed and killed a bystander.

That's why you don't open carry at protests. The untrained "good guy with a gun" is likely to shoot you. Carry concealed if you're going to carry, or don't bring a gun at all.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

That's not accurate.

The person shot and killed (Mr. Ah-loo) was unarmed. He was struck by a round fired at someone (mr. Gamboa) who had snuck out of the protest and returned with an AR-15.

Gamboa was arrested for attempted murder, and the person who fired the shot is/was being investigated, but has not been arrested/charged at this time

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[–] FryHyde@lemmy.zip 26 points 3 weeks ago (14 children)

Best and simplest answer is that technically they're still considered law enforcement. Nearly everything they're doing is constitutionally illegal, but only the courts have the right to determine that.

If we start threatening police with guns, every single nook and cranny of our legal system justifies the police murdering us. Maybe some cops would get paid leave for a few weeks, or possibly even lose their badges, but that's about it.

And then they'll use it to justify an even more inflated budget for ICE, and everything will get exponentially worse.

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[–] stoly@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Because people who are legal concealed carry permit holders regularly get shot in the back by police. People who act like you can stand up to a major world military are idiots.

[–] RenLinwood@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago (21 children)

Don't turn your back on the police and don't face them alone, fucking duh. Cops are cowards, they'll be a lot more hesitant to shoot someone if there's a credible risk of dozens/hundreds of other people immediately shooting back.

[–] SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social 7 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

don’t face them alone

*pervasive surveillance state has entered the chat*

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[–] twice_hatch@midwest.social 16 points 3 weeks ago (12 children)

I believe open carry is illegal here in Illinois.

The meta I've heard is also that, if you're gonna brandish or draw a gun, you'd better be prepared to kill with it. I'm not prepared to die shooting cops so I don't feel like carrying. In the confusion of a gun fight I don't think I'd have much to add by shooting anyone

Like if someone told me that the 2nd amendment just causes more shootings and doesn't actually protect people on average I'd say yeah...

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[–] Triumph@fedia.io 14 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Many states make it illegal to bring any kind of weapon to a protest.

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[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 14 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Because trump is hoping people will do something stupid so that he can overreact and put the entire country in lock down?

Unless you're going for a violent uprising, violent protests typically do less than large scale continuous peaceful protests

The problem is that the latter also doesn't happen in the US, it's as if Americans just don't care..

Oh yes, I know the excuses, we have a job, we have a family to feed, and DUDE YOU ARE A JEW IN GERMANY 1934, WOULD YOU PLEASE FRIGGING DO SOMETHING ALREADY?

[–] JandroDelSol@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

even if no one does anything drastic, trump will escalate anyway. we may get something staged like with charlie kirk, but they may not even find a bullshit reason to justify themselves.

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Because people won’t open carry when it’s against the law so they don’t get arrested. Unlike ICE, they’re following the law.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Carrying a gun greatly increases the chance of using it.

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

It also increases your own chances of getting shot. Heck, i suppose it increases everyone's chances of getting shot! 🥂

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[–] boaratio@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Teenagers that have toy guns are regularly shot and killed by police in America. The cops get away with murder. They'd need no justification if someone was actually carrying a real fire arm.

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[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 weeks ago

Ice thugs arresting unarmed citizens and lawful temporary residents brandish firearms and shove you into a van.

Ice thugs arresting armed citizens will probably shoot first.

In no case will they identify themselves or allow for an orderly review of all the paperwork every citizen would surely have with them at all times.

[–] ruuster13@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The 2nd amendment was written in 1789 when information moved at the rate of the printing press and bullets came from muskets.

This takeover has been in planning since the 1970s. They courted the NRA and gun owners along with the attack on public schooling so said gun owners wouldn't understand what fascism is when the moment came.

In the grand scheme of things, it took the fascists 200 years to find a way around the 2nd amendment.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

The founding fathers used every trick in the fascist playbook before there was even such a thing. We have always been a country created by the wealthy for the wealthy. You can't examine our history critically and come away not seeing blatant authoritarian and proto-fascist ideology and actions.

So no, the fascists have always been here and in charge filling our heads with the propaganda to make us believe we are a free law abiding democracy.

Everything else you said was spot on. Just because we have always been fascist doesn't mean we can't get objectively worse

[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Generally gun owners tend to lean towards the republican side.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago

There are tons of liberal gun owners.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Guns are the other guys's thing. Democrats fight with hope and dignity and going high.

Wait, why are we losing? /s

Edit: Ignore all the other people giving reasons. Maybe some of them are true, but it's not why.

I'm close enough to the country to know that taking up arms is too taboo and "other" for the blue Americans to have ever considered in the first place. Lemmy is full of blue Americans, who have an emotional incentive to make it rational, though.

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