this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
225 points (94.8% liked)

Ask Lemmy

34914 readers
1960 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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.

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] twice_hatch@midwest.social 12 points 14 hours ago (2 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...

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Wakmrow@lemmy.world 51 points 19 hours 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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] stoly@lemmy.world 19 points 19 hours 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 6 points 19 hours ago (16 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 6 points 18 hours ago (4 children)

don’t face them alone

*pervasive surveillance state has entered the chat*

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 4 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

No shit. That's the problem. You bring your friends and the cops will bring their tanks. Then what, have a dick measuring contest?

... Oh wait, they'll gun you all down and laugh about it instead.

So yeah, guns can be used, but let's not pretend flexing your firearm in public will easily accomplish your goal. Be thoughtful and careful about when and where.

[–] RenLinwood@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

We had tanks in Afghanistan, didn't stop us from losing. Nobody in history, no matter how well armed, has ever won a war against a dedicated insurgency.

[–] Knoxvomica@lemmy.ca 10 points 15 hours ago

This right here. Asymmetrical warfare is terrible for modern occupying armies.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (14 replies)
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 39 points 1 day ago (2 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

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 34 points 23 hours ago (6 children)

At a certain point we have to fight back.

The argument of "we can't respond to their violence with violence or they will become more violent" doesn't hold water when they are getting increasingly violent anyway.

It's a coward's fallacy

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 15 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

I do understand your point but the military was told to attack and commit war crimes on American civilians so I just think that a general strike would be the most effective strategy in the situation we currently face. That’s just my opinion on the approach that would be the most efficient at this time.

[–] TheMinister@sh.itjust.works 13 points 22 hours ago

It’s the most powerful tool in our arsenal. And it’s just sitting right at our feet. But we just won’t pick it up. I don’t get it.

General strike now.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (8 children)

https://generalstrikeus.com/

Once 11mil more strike cards are filled out it begins.

Otherwise we are waiting until 2028 when the Auto Workers Union starts their planned general strike

I will keep trying but I have very little faith in my fellow countrymen

load more comments (8 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 13 points 20 hours 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 9 points 19 hours 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.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Badabinski@kbin.earth 29 points 1 day 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 14 points 1 day 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

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 22 hours ago

Sure. But protest organizers have a responsibility to create a clear policy and communicate this policy in an open carry state, and they also have a responsibility to properly vet any people that do communicate that they will attend with a firearm.

The volunteer open carry person was not trained, and was not given any instruction as simple as "return fire only" or "do not shoot first".

[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 3 points 16 hours ago

Armed victims increase the cost of tyranical actions but modern warfare and thus miltia movements is not just (have weapon, intimidate or kill enemy). Honestly one of the failures of the defense of the second amendment has been the failure to modernize and includr other parts of warfare.

Honestly there is a mixture of denial in what is actually happening and support too

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 9 points 21 hours 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.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 13 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

Americans are domesticated cowards

Don't have kids, leave the country if you can afford to.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 47 points 1 day 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 26 points 1 day 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.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (7 replies)
[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 129 points 1 day ago (45 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 55 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] normonator@lemmy.ml 28 points 1 day ago

Not just waited, prevented others from taking action.

[–] Shiggles@sh.itjust.works 46 points 1 day 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 26 points 1 day ago (27 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.

load more comments (27 replies)
load more comments (43 replies)
[–] Corelli_III@midwest.social 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Why do people think that guns stop bullets? Guns attract bullets.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] JandroDelSol@lemmy.world 4 points 19 hours ago

people are cowards

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 53 points 1 day 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.

[–] zeroday@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 14 hours ago

This, why would a given group of protestors all open carry? I'd expect a mass of conceal-carried weapons, though.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›