Open Firearms Carry at "Open" Protests Is Not About Rights.

[MineralMan]

It is about intimidation. The firearms are about restricting YOUR right to disagree with the protesters.

That tactic works, too, which is why it is so widely used. Most people will not confront an armed protester. Not even the police in most cases. So, they come armed and shout in the faces of the police, knowing that nothing will happen to them.

Armed protesters want everyone who is not them to be intimidated by their display of arms.

When you encounter such people, are you intimidated? If so, the tactic works.

[underpants]

1. As I posted about masks in Stillwater OK.

They had to divide
They couldn’t possibly not have as at each other’s throats. It just couldn’t be.

This has nothing to do with freedom or rights. That is pure bullshit. This is about flicking their ears until they get angry. Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere the manipulators (on the right) aren’t placing side bets on what kind of stupid shit they can get at least one person to do. Like pushing a park ranger in a lake in Austin Texas.

[Aristus]

2. It's hard not to be.

These people shoot children.

[MineralMan]

3. Of course. Nobody much wants to confront an armed person.

That's why they succeed with their armed protests. Even the armed police do not want to confront those armed men. So, they try to control their movements, but do nothing else.

The armed rightists are constantly encouraged in their behavior, so they continue to take advantage of that.

[KS Toronado]

21. Maybe we need a new law which states

all firearms in public view (unless you're hunting) can only shoot flags that say BANG

[MineralMan]

22. Hmm...

[aggiesal]

24. Someone posted this on DU yesterday ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213377574

[Grokenstein]

32. Flawlessly accurate.

There was a time when Republicans supported gun control legislation.
The Black Panthers were stocking up on ammo, you see, and...I don't really need to explain further, do I.

[aggiesal]

41. California was an open carry state ...

Then the Black Panthers decided to exercised their right at the state capitol while
Ronnie RayGun was governor.



Open carry law disappeared soon after.
They scared the you-know-what out of Ronnie.

Open carry is good as long as the black and brown people don't exercise
that right. Otherwise call the police and break up their right to assemble.

[Solly Mack]

4. Yep.

[Wounded Bear]

5. K & R...for truth...nt

[kentuck]

6. You make an important point.

Last edited Sat May 2, 2020, 10:36 PM - Edit history (1)

It is not about rights. It is about intimidation.

[sop]

7. Of course, it's all about intimidation and fear.

Why else would these man-children parade about on busy city streets and in public places, dressed from head to toe in military-style clothing and headgear, wearing body armor, toting AR-15s decked out with every conceivable tactical accessory? These assholes want everyone to know they're locked and loaded, eager to water the tree of liberty with some liberal's blood.

[MineralMan]

8. Unless something is done to stop this intimidation,

the incidents will continue to increase as more and more people are emboldened by the inaction.

While it may be legal to carry arms into the Michigan State Capitol, other laws are available for use, like simple "Disturbing the Peace." Clearly the presence of men in camouflage bearing arms and shouting at police officers qualifies for charges under that common misdemeanor. There is probably a law regarding disruptions of the legislature, as well.

The open carry thing is not in place so people can intimidate others. That has never been its function.

There is always a law that can be enforced.

If we do nothing, we will soon be unable to do anything.

[CanonRay]

12. Are we going to see it at the polls this November?

That's my worry.

[dustyscamp]

14. I believe you'll see a few of these guys around unfortunately

[BComplex]

15. Oh you're going to see a whole lot of it at the polls in November.

They've already posted about it, and they are going to be intimidating every person of color at the door. They have every intention of doing this in every red and purple state, and most heavily in the swing states. Trump has encouraged this.

[MineralMan]

16. Possibly, at some polling places.

Vote by mail, if you can. If you can't, and you see armed men at your polling place, call 911 and explain that you are afraid to enter the polling place to cast your vote because there are men with guns there. That should work in most areas.

[OMGWTF]

39. Hopefully we'll all be voting by mail and this will be a moot point.

[dustyscamp]

13. We won't really be able to do anything until these corrupt politicians and lawmen are thrown to the

curb. Even when we do, we will meet heavy resistance. There might be a few underhanded ways we can get rid of some of these guys though like doxing or getting them arrested somehow, but all that could backfire.

[MineralMan]

17. One possibility when there are armed men in a place you want to enter,

and it is a government building, is to call 911 and tell the person that you are afraid to enter that building where you have something you need to do. If the 911 person tried to brush you off, insist on a supervisor. You have a right to enter government buildings and nobody has a right to intimidate you into not going into that building. Complain and escalate your complaint until you get some action.

As a last resort, contact your city council member or country supervisor for your district and tell them what you did and why you were intimidated. Ask for their help, since you need to access that building to do whatever it is you need to do.

If you still get no results, publicize what happened. Call the local newspaper or TV station and explain what has happened.

What you should never do is to do nothing. Those people count on others doing nothing.

You don't have to personally confront armed men who are protesting. You won't win by doing that, and you might make the situation worse. Insist that your government law enforcement people protect your rights of access to public buildings.

[William Seger]

25. I'd arrest them and charge them with felony threatening

If convicted, they could no longer own guns.

[MineralMan]

26. Most of them don't do any outright threatening.

Their firearms are sufficient to intimidate most people. Some do engage in yelling at people, from the photos I have seen. I doubt if that adds up to felony threatening, though.

Most of them know what the laws are and try to stay just inside those laws, although there are exceptions to that.

[William Seger]

33. I'd arrest them, anyway, and let the court decide, case by case

[Kaiserguy]

30. K & R

It has to be stop, if not it will lead to mob rule that of course is what the GOP and Trump want.

[eShirl]

9. Brownshirts

[Alacritous Crier]

11. Exactly.

[mokawanis]

10. and they are encouraged and emboldened by Trump

who says they are all good people.

[Aviation Pro]

18. So let LEOs draw their firearms

That’ll put the kabosh on the fuckterds.

[catbyte]

19. The thing that infuriates me is LEO only seem intimidated if white people are carrying.

They seem to have no problem blowing away somebody with more melanin in their skin.

[MineralMan]

20. Yes, the difference in LEO behavior is notable.

People of color won't do that sort of thing. They know the danger of it.

[Mopar151]

40. It's not just color.

In pale-white New Hampshire, it's only necessary to not submit to an order, to get shot for having a "gun". NH is not a huge place, we know how quickly things go out of control, and we usually know more "why" than what's in the papers. Google "Liko Kenney" - Often, cop -to-trouble issues are very personal here.

[usaf-vet]

23. Note to self NEVER NEVER travel to Oklahoma.

For any reason.

[MineralMan]

27. Yeah. I have never traveled TO Oklahoma.

I have traveled THROUGH the state a few times, but have never found anything there that would lead me to make it a destination, frankly.

[relayerbob]

28. It's called "terrorism"

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

29. What I would like to see happen to these people

I won't spell out here, but suffice it to say it would result in their understanding what it's like to be on the receiving end.

[SMC22307]

31. This Raleigh, NC resident wasn't intimidated by the #COVIDIOTS.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article242434446.html

Not sure I would have done the same, but kudos to him.

[roamer65]

34. It's all fun and games for them till the black helicopters show up.

That’s why I want the Michigan NG called out. They will melt away when real force shows up.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

35. It's not possible now due to #StayAtHome but I would LOVE

to see and participate in counter protests at these White Privilege Intimidation Crybaby Fests.

In these gatherings Counter protestors would not engage the weapon carrying babies at all. In fact, they would ignore them altogether except for occasional glances followed by uproarious laughter amongst themselves. Another glance, more laughter. After a time, Counter protestors would simply shake their heads and walk away.

Imagine hundreds of people pointing and laughing.

Hundreds and hundreds of people pointing and laughing.

[Mr. Ected]

36. Hence their otherworldly obeisance to the Second Amendment

It's not about the right to own a firearm, self-protection or staving off tyranny. Rather, it's the right to use it to force their will on those who disagree with them.

[Cozmo]

37. I've been confronted with a gun 3 times in my life

Each person who held the gun was a coward and I laughed in their face. These protesters are no different. If they weren't scared little babies, why would they need a gun?

[marieo1]

38. Cowards and bullies need weapons

Oh, my, I was dismayed and angered by the armed protests in Michigan, too. You are so right, it is about intimidation, 'we're right and you better not try to stop us'!!! If they had a leg to stand on they wouldn't need arms. They think this shows how strong they are and just like all bullies, loud voices, yelling and arms do not prove your strength, it shows them as bunch of cowards. People that are not cowards, don't need weapons to prove their point.