• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I do not blame any woman or queer person arming themselves in the U.S. right now. But I think that you should think of it as personal protection rather than preparation for something larger.

    Be aware of this:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disarmament_of_the_German_Jews

    The Jews of Germany constituted less than 1 percent of the country’s population. It is preposterous to argue that the possession of firearms would have enabled them to mount resistance against a systematic program of persecution implemented by a modern bureaucracy, enforced by a well-armed police state, and either supported or tolerated by the majority of the German population. Mr. Carson’s suggestion that ordinary Germans, had they had guns, would have risked their lives in armed resistance against the regime simply does not comport with the regrettable historical reality of a regime that was quite popular at home. Inside Germany, only the army possessed the physical force necessary for defying or overthrowing the Nazis, but the generals had thrown in their lot with Hitler early on.

    Obviously, women and queer people are a lot more than 1% of the population, but you can’t count on every queer person being on the right side and you certainly can’t count on every woman to be on the right side.

      • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 months ago

        It was also opposed by George Washington on the argument that “A bunch of farmers with guns will never defeat a trained army.” He basically did exactly that, but it took the support of one of the world’s largest super powers at the time in order to do it - France.

        Not to say don’t arm yourself. I plan on doing exactly that myself. But don’t expect to be overthrowing the dictatorship to come. There are no resistance groups being armed by the EU here.

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        that was before tanks and instant communication. the army would have been less organized and maybe you could have a chance against the government, especially as a militia. today you don’t.

        you do have a chance against a bunch of fuckwads who threaten you because the party they voted for won and the think they can rape freely now. just not the government.

        • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          The last three wars have been pretty recent, and haven’t not gone well against a foe no where near or equal. Not so much as a pyric victory, but an eventual unwillingness to keep wasting time and money and lives, and we just left. What do you call it when you just leave a war failing all your objectives and handing over territory to the enemy?

          • pyre@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            what are you talking about? control over your own land is nothing like invading a remote country halfway around the world.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        What a bunch of slave-owners thought about guns hundreds of years ago is not really relevant to today.

        And if you’re going to attack someone for thinking people should be armed for the wrong reason, maybe you should find better targets.

        • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Whoa, I’m not attacking you. I have a difference in opinion as to why people should be armed. Not saying that one does not have a right to self defense, just that i put stock in the need to collectively hold the government accountable and fight tyranny

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            And you can see why, from what I already wrote, that is not likely to work unless the majority is on your side. And the military.

            • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              The military has had a pretty lousy track record against gorilla warfare from much smaller, worse armed groups who, by the width of an ocean were unable to affect logistical lines, the means to project warfare, or the families of our soldiers. A Revolution within would be much worse.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                6 months ago

                How many innocent people died in those wars? It’s not very nice of you to be willing to put their lives on the line like that.

                • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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                  6 months ago

                  Oh? Now it’s a discussion about who should be sacrificed and for what. Freedom always has a cost. I never removed myself from the possibility. But right now, the royal “we”, seem to be sacrificing the minority, the different, the poor, the non christian and it gets worse every day. Freedoms are slipping, corporations get stronger, and standards of living and hope for the future fades. This will only accelerate. Arguing to arm oneself for personal protection but not collective action will doom all, but the chosen, to be picked off one by one.

    • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I think we agree that it is important to consider parallels in history, but the US is not 1930s Germany.

        • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Germany is roughly 138,000 square miles in size, while the USA is approximately 4,000,000 square miles.

          The population of Germany in the 1930’s was roughly 60,000,000, the population of the US today, closer to 400,000,000.

          The US does not share an international border with 10 different countries.

          That’s just for starters. So while I agree there are parallels, there are a lot more differences that you’re not accounting for.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            I don’t think you’re stupid and I think you’re able to read context, so why you’re pretending I wasn’t talking about the political atmosphere and playing this “well actually” game, I don’t know.

            • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              I really don’t want to argue, and my original comment was a direct response to your assertion that armed resistance in the US (if warranted) is essentially futile.

              Again, yes there are parallels, which I continue to acknowledge, but the US is not Germany in a ton of relevant ways. Subsequently, a direct comparison between 1930’s Germany and 2025 US is inherently flawed, in regard to armed resistance - the main topic of your own original comment.

              Is it possible that while you were busy erroneously ad homineming me with an accusation of '‘well actually(ing)’ you, that it was you who missed context? Or are you pretending I wasn’t talking about the topic of the comment I replied to and playing a ‘well actually’ game?

              My reply to you was not hostile, why default to treating me adversarially? Why instead of discussing the topic that you brought up would you force me into this exhausting position? I believe you can do better than reddit tier.

  • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    The left needs to get on board with this. Govt isn’t going to protect you from far right militias when the shit hits the fan.

    • Gigasser@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Not advocating anything, but there’s a “it could happen here” podcast episode for leftists out there, with some really good info.

      AR-15 is a very good gun to get unless you’re in a state like CA. Shotgun sare good too, Mossberg is fairly affordable(btw, you still need to aim with shotguns). Glock 19 for a pistol, just know pistols are harder to use and you will need to train with it more.

  • Ekybio@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    With sentiment like “your body, my choice” floating around more and more, I hope that everyone in need will arm themselves accoringly.

    Because the guys on the other guys think they are made of steel. Remind them that they have a lot of very vulnerable blood vessels close to the skin and that knifes are as cheap as their lies…

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Can confirm, my wife has expressed an interest. We’re just waiting for the local LGBTQ friendly range to open.

    The other local ranges are either run by cops (ACAB) or require NRA memberships to join. Yeah, that’s not happening.

    • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Sometimes you have to open the gun range you wish to see in your neighborhood.

      Or something like that. I think Gandhi said it.

  • Yewb@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Im a liberal guess who now has a gun safe with multiple guns?

    I guess we are making America great again by arming the liberals too?

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    The whole Russian project was to have our “polite society” collapse as we, as Americans, lost all faith in our institutions and turned against one another and in the process, also lost any kind of collective identity, which makes us a weaker target externally. That happened.

    It’s crazy to me, looking back, how much this was openly discussed along the way, as it successfully happened in slow motion over the last 10-15 years - wasn’t there also a book released that just laid their strategy bare? If there are historians in the future, will be amazing to read the perspective on all of this with time and analysis from those not trapped within the cycle of death and hopelessness.

  • Clbull@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    At this rate America’s 4B movement is gonna stand for “bang bang bang bang”…

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Stay strapped or get clapped…

    It feels like they picked the worst screenshot intentionally though when talking about that YouTuber…

    Like, maybe it’s a new kind of magnifier that you flip up to use instead of off to the side to not use. But that AR just doesn’t look like whoever built it knew what they were doing.

    Like the BLM protests where it was obvious people went out and bought ARs just for the event and didn’t even put sights on beforehand.

    That being said don’t wander around gun YouTube on your account it only takes a couple videos for the algorithm to decide you’re a gun nut, and that comes along with a bunch of other rightwing videos, because normally it does.

    But Reagan is the one who passed Cali’s gun laws, and he did so because people he didn’t like were marching with guns.

    Obviously it would have made more sense to start when Biden was in office, but it seems like unless protestors carry guns, the cops will just beat them without a second thought.

    If they even think some have guns tho… Cops won’t do shit.

    • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      If cops get return fire in a (leftist) protest/riot, they’ll come back with MRAPs and live rounds and re-enact Kent State. They live for that moment.

      Oh, and that magnifier is on a Unity FAST mount, and yes, it flips up to get in position. It’s on a higher sight plane along with the Eotech to help with shooting while using things like night vision goggles, and a lot of people say it’s more natural and comfortable for fast shooting in general. It’s actually some Gucci shit and looks squared away to me.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Weird, I never saw one of those before, but if it works it’s way better than hanging off to the side.

        And I think you’re forgetting how much cops are cowards. They won’t go into a school when it’s one kid with an AR and they have a seat team.

        They’ll say they want a firefight all fucking day, when they get the opportunity they shit their pants.

        But we know how they treat unarmed protestors, and the difference when there’s guns present.

  • PagingDoctorLove@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I have a conundrum, maybe people in this thread can weigh in.

    I’m a woman living in an area with a small but loud MAGA faction and useless police who are probably also Trump supporters. I’m also not white.

    Hunting is common here, and although I’ve never been I do know how to shoot and have access to classes if I want to improve. We also have friends and family with firearms and a couple of them live nearby.

    I feel like I should get a gun. I know how to use one and I want to be able to protect myself if necessary. But I’m scared of firearms. Something about them disturbs me. Maybe it’s the likelihood of someone dying once a gun comes out. Maybe it’s just a fear, however unfounded, that I can’t or shouldn’t handle such a powerful tool. But the reason behind the feeling doesn’t matter so much as my ability to overcome it, and I’m not sure I can. If I had money to burn I’d buy one just to see how I feel, but I don’t so I can’t.

    In short, I’m torn. I want to be able to just get a gun for peace of mind and call it a day, but I fear that as soon as the gun is in my house I will become a nervous wreck and that will defeat the whole purpose.

    I’d love to hear from anyone who feels the same or has overcome this fear.

    • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I don’t own a gun and feel the same as you. I am leaning toward getting a gun safe and keeping the gun and ammo locked up and hidden. If it gathers dust that’s great, but having it there if I need it would be a comfort I think.

      • Skeezix@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Comfort for what? An armed mob laying siege on your house? If someone breaks in unexpectedly are you going to ask him to wait while you open the safe?

        • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          I mean realistically, I think people who worry about burglars are paranoid and the armed mob scenario is also silly. i think its more about helping neighbors out if you see something crazy happening nearby.

  • SpitSalute@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    We as leftists, must organize in ways that match the fascists. Subversion of their goals is our goal. The class and culture war is in full effect and we must not be complacent.

  • Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Lol, this thread is a train wreck and is the perfect example of why Republicans keep winning elections despite being on the wrong side of history and having policies that hurt the American population at large.

    The left will never win as long as we form circular firing squads and argue over petty bullshit.

      • Skeezix@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Because the whole “I need a gun now” reaction is just people trying to assuage the fear and uncertainty of the future. While there will continue to be random violence against minorities and lgtbq, the predominant way they will be hurt going forward is via policy. Policy that marginalizes them. Arming up because you think right wing mobs are going to enact a pogrom against you is no different than right wing nuts arming up because they think a caravan of criminal mexicans is heading toward the border. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are “in control” because you took a shooting class and bought a pistol. When we are afraid we naturally want to “do something” about it. But as soon as you reach for a weapon you’ve lost.

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Good. Gun rights are human rights. All people have the right to defend themselves and those around them. Taking that away by banning the only tool that evens the playing field is not OK.

  • irotsoma@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Ive had one for a while. It’s not something I hope to ever use, but now it’s less likely that an armed person will be coming after me for my money, which I can just give and not have to kill to defend myself, and more likely they’re coming for my life.

  • MellowYellow13@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Why are Americans answers to everything guns? So much paranoia and mental health issues in this country it’s insane.

    • Goodmorningsunshine@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I mean rapists, transphobes, bigots, and neo Nazis all now feel carte blanche freedom to do whatever they please in this country. There will absolutely be more crimes against women, LGBTQ+, minorities, and liberals. Not arming yourself against these animals is the insane thing.

    • SleepyBear@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      If you look at the one side of the political spectrum that seems to be usurping power over here, they fucking LOVE guns. It wouldnt surprise me that if they got violent, it would be armed heavily with firearms. This is the exact response i would expect from would be victims of aforementioned gun violence. in the words of my constituion and bible humping american brethren, we shall NOT BE VICTIM TO A TYRANNICAL STATE!

    • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      What would you suggest? I have three trans friends who are making plans to move, at least for a few years, but not everyone can do that.

        • drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          1 a republican in office l so we can’t count on any law changing for the better. 2 even if we did reform gun laws the these people won’t give them up. A lot of them won’t even save their own children from disease