[talaniman]

The gun toting "rabble " you speak of is the government that can ,will and has imposed it's will on the people by the force of arms many times .

Care to expand on that.

[paraclete]

Care to expand on that.

Do you think he needs too? Too many examples of cops, etc breaking up peaceful demonstrations

The gun-toting rabble are all the NRA members (those open- and concealed-carry dudes). Will they connect with each other to form a militia and protect me against the government's tanks and cannons?

Gotcha

[talaniman]

Local or state COPS policing demonstrations is not the same as the government knocking on doors for the purpose confiscating the legal guns of law abiding citizens like the right wing is afraid of.

[tomder55]

you think those are the only instances where the government imposed it's will by force on the people ? Let me ask you something ; why does the IRS have an arsenal that many 3rd world nations would envy. What we really need is back round checks of the IRS employees . The number of non-military federal officers with firearm authority (200,000+) now exceeds the number of U.S. Marines (182,000)....and that does not include TSA , FBI , and Homeland Security . Spending on guns, ammo and military-style equipment at 67 federal agencies;including 53 regulatory, administrative agencies amounted to $1.48 billion between 2006-2014.The IRS stockpile alone includes pump action and semi-automatic shotguns ; and semi-automatic AR-15 rifles (S&W M&P 15) and military style H&K 416 rifles.Health and Human Services (HHS) has it's own arsenal and has their own “National Training Operations Center” .The FDA, Small Business Administration (SBA), Smithsonian Institution, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Mint, Department of Education, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, National Institute of Standards and Technology all have been armed .

[talaniman]

So everybody and his mama in America has a gun. Are government workers Americans covered under the second amendment? Okay show me where they have imposed their will by gunpoint.

[Athos]

you think those are the only instances where the government imposed it's will by force on the people.

Government, by definition, ALWAYS imposes its will on the people by force or threat of force. It's the nature of the beast.

[paraclete]

you think those are the only instances where the government imposed it's will by force on the people ? Let me ask you something ; why does the IRS have an arsenal that many 3rd world nations would envy. What we really need is back round checks of the IRS employees . The number of non-military federal officers with firearm authority (200,000+) now exceeds the number of U.S. Marines (182,000)....and that does not include TSA , FBI , and Homeland Security . Spending on guns, ammo and military-style equipment at 67 federal agencies;including 53 regulatory, administrative agencies amounted to $1.48 billion between 2006-2014.The IRS stockpile alone includes pump action and semi-automatic shotguns ; and semi-automatic AR-15 rifles (S&W M&P 15) and military style H&K 416 rifles.Health and Human Services (HHS) has it's own arsenal and has their own “National Training Operations Center” .The FDA, Small Business Administration (SBA), Smithsonian Institution, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Mint, Department of Education, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, National Institute of Standards and Technology all have been armed .

Sounds like a bad case of paranoia, is someone afraid guns will suddenly disappear?

[talaniman]

Seems LOGICAL that if all the loonies, criminals, and every other citizen had a gun, then maybe government should have them too, you know for protection against overthrow. LOL, we sell things that go boom all over the WORLD! Even to Aussies at a discount, and can make more on demand!

They will NEVER EVER disappear!

[paraclete]

Seems LOGICAL that if all the loonies, criminals, and every other citizen had a gun, then maybe government should have them too, you know for protection against overthrow. LOL, we sell things that go boom all over the WORLD! Even to Aussies at a discount, and can make more on demand!

They will NEVER EVER disappear!

Yes you sell us some weapons, but our military don't use your guns, they prefer a weapon with more killing power

[talaniman]

We got those too at a discount for allies.

[paraclete]

We got those too at a discount for allies.

Despite the rhetoric we are not signed on to making america great, but you could give us a discount on the flying brick

[smoothy]

[paraclete]

Smoothy while it may be true that repressive regimes may remove guns from the individual not all regimes that control firearms are repressive, this sort of thing is the rubbish thinking that is associated with the firearms lobby in the US and it is pure commercial interest, they have no concern for the loss of innocent life associated with firearms. A well ordered society doesn't need to rely on firearms, and the persistent lie that is the idea that only the individual can protect themselves is ridiculous

[talaniman]

LOL, I can understand Smoothy's feeling of protecting himself against The Dufus and his administration. There is no greater threat to freedom than him or his policies. Having a well regulated militia (National Guard and COPS) are not enough sometimes, but a gun driven fueled paranoid fool is a scary proposition, but just as the loony right clings to its guns, the loony left forgets just how dangerous life can be even in the seemingly safest of places.

Not everybody who wants a gun should have them, certainly not criminals and lunatics, and I don't care about what RIGHTS you think you have. I reject totally the premise of armed resistance to OUR government, as sheer LUNACY though, while respecting that some have experiences that makes then afraid to be disarmed. Seems a reasonable first step is accounting for who has what guns, and if you are a criminal, OR LUNATIC, or just irresponsible. Sadly though it's hard to diagnose LUNATICS or irresponsible citizens.

The Australian model looks better all the time.

[talaniman]

An interesting read

More Americans Are Carrying Handguns Than Ever Before – Mother Jones

In full disclosure I live in a state with Conceal and carry laws and they hand them out like candy. Gun shows are EVERYWHERE and cash and carry is good to go. Then you have this crap.

https://www.concealedonline.com/star...%20-%20License

[Wondergirl]

https://www.concealedonline.com/star...%20-%20License

Yup, I break into a cold sweat every time I leave the house and go grocery shopping, sure that a murderer is out there somewhere, lurking in the shadows. (And he's probably an NRA member, the "good guy with a gun," like that dude in Las Vegas.)

[paraclete]

LOL, I can understand Smoothy's feeling of protecting himself against The Dufus and his administration. There is no greater threat to freedom than him or his policies. Having a well regulated militia (National Guard and COPS) are not enough sometimes, but a gun driven fueled paranoid fool is a scary proposition, but just as the loony right clings to its guns, the loony left forgets just how dangerous life can be even in the seemingly safest of places.

Not everybody who wants a gun should have them, certainly not criminals and lunatics, and I don't care about what RIGHTS you think you have. I reject totally the premise of armed resistance to OUR government, as sheer LUNACY though, while respecting that some have experiences that makes then afraid to be disarmed. Seems a reasonable first step is accounting for who has what guns, and if you are a criminal, OR LUNATIC, or just irresponsible. Sadly though it's hard to diagnose LUNATICS or irresponsible citizens.

The Australian model looks better all the time.

Don't let the NRA hear you say that. In reality a very high percentage of the population are unreliable, not only are there lunatics, but drug users and a great deal of unhappy people, like preppers, who cannot be considered to have a firm grip on reality. I see you realise that a well ordered militia, such as army and police, might actually be the correct reading of the Constitution, so let's get real and deputise all those gun owners then you will have a well regulated militia

[talaniman]

Some humans are more flawed than others and half have selfish bad intent and don't care. So what?

let's get real and deputise all those gun owners then you will have a well regulated militia

And corrupt the system with their BS? No way. They can volunteer and see if they QUALIFY. Regardless of the outcome we all are accountable for our own actions. Collectively, or as individuals.

Until Scotty can beam me up, looks like I'm stuck here with the rest of you flawed humans. The problem is the evil humans look exactly like the good ones. Sometimes there is no difference. Scary? Naw! Been this way for a long time. Human ignorance is not new.

[paraclete]

Naw look in their eyes

[tomder55]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...QPL/story.html