In the context of a protest, using guns is the most extreme escalation. You start shooting at cops, cops start shooting at you, and most likely everyone around you. It’s an option but it requires restraint.
Not everyone is mentally, legally, or financially able to take that burden on.
I’m not saying show up and start shooting cops. But if you can openly carry a baseball bat without the police shooting you, you can carry a concealed pistol (in states where it’s legal) without escalating anything until escalation is required.
I tell people as often as I can, especially my trans and bipoc friends; now is the time. Get a couple guns (a long one and a short one) and learn how to use them. Learn some basic first aid, you really just need to know how to stabilize someone. Start networking with like-minded people in your communities. The police will not protect us, they’ve proven they’ll happily club senior citizens to the ground and shoot any protesters in the face with rubber bullets while escorting a rightwing murderer to safety.
Iran was a secular, liberal state until almost 1980 when they (mostly legitimately) elected an Islamist theocracy; it could happen here.
Get to know people in your community. Take an interest in growing food, learn how to fix things. Get a gun (or two) and learn how to use them. Establish secondary lines of communication and start preparing.
People who are unable or unwilling for whatever reason to arm themselves shouldn’t. But it’s definitely a good idea to consciously reevaluate your ability or willingness on a fairly regular basis, considering the rapidly changing circumstances. And just because a particular course of action isn’t right for everyone doesn’t mean it’s wrong for everyone.
Yes. But…
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I’m not saying show up and start shooting cops. But if you can openly carry a baseball bat without the police shooting you, you can carry a concealed pistol (in states where it’s legal) without escalating anything until escalation is required.
If you go black panthers and just have 25 people with ARs (where open carry is legal) they will be concerned about escalating with you
I tell people as often as I can, especially my trans and bipoc friends; now is the time. Get a couple guns (a long one and a short one) and learn how to use them. Learn some basic first aid, you really just need to know how to stabilize someone. Start networking with like-minded people in your communities. The police will not protect us, they’ve proven they’ll happily club senior citizens to the ground and shoot any protesters in the face with rubber bullets while escorting a rightwing murderer to safety.
Iran was a secular, liberal state until almost 1980 when they (mostly legitimately) elected an Islamist theocracy; it could happen here.
Get to know people in your community. Take an interest in growing food, learn how to fix things. Get a gun (or two) and learn how to use them. Establish secondary lines of communication and start preparing.
https://www.dsausa.org/
https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/
https://socialistra.org/
https://generalstrikeus.com/
https://afsc.org/news/how-create-mutual-aid-network
https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids/
https://mutualaidhub.org/
In the context of a protest, you’re right.
People who are unable or unwilling for whatever reason to arm themselves shouldn’t. But it’s definitely a good idea to consciously reevaluate your ability or willingness on a fairly regular basis, considering the rapidly changing circumstances. And just because a particular course of action isn’t right for everyone doesn’t mean it’s wrong for everyone.