Should there be orders to shoot at people attempting to storm a state's capital?

[Stinky The Clown]

We KNOW the crazies intend to storm our states' capitals. We KNOW that. Should governors activate their national guards to protect their capitals? Should those national guardsmen, along with each state's constabulary be prepared to shoot at any advancing insurgents?

This can NOT stand.

[muntrv]

1. Yes. Those terrorists will be armed.

[trueblue2007]

43. yes, if they are armed with weapons, they are there for a reason.

the thousands of people overrunning the palace in france during the french revolution, didn't come to have tea with Marie Antoinette..... these rioters are coming to destroy and kill.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Trump is practically drooling for martyrs.

He wants magats to die for him. He needs a blood sacrifice to feed his sick soul.

[Hekate]

3. Weighing the options here...

[getagrip_already]

8. same here... civil disobedience good.... anarchy bad...

terrorism - fire when ready.

[Auggie]

4. Only if rubber bullets and tear gas are ineffective

[servermsh]

5. I don't see why not. Do we want foreign influences invading our capitals? n/t

[TheRealNorth]

6. Hard to say

Ultimately, it depends on whether lives are at risk and whether the MAGATS start using deadly force.

[HUAJIAO]

7. Hard choice.

trump wants to declare martial law......

[David__77]

9. Not as a sort of blanket order - no.

...

[hadEnuf]

10. Storming and violently entering any capitol with the intent to harm or overthrow is over the line

for ANY group protesting. It is no longer a protest when that happens. Civil disobedience is one thing, a coup is quite another.

Crowd control is the first option. If they are fired on they have a right to defend if the situation warrants it, IMO

[Fullduplexxx]

11. There arent already ?

[Meowmee]

12. Yes

[Tommymac]

13. After all other means have been exhausted, and life is being imminently threatened, yes.

It will be in the playbook.

[jimlup]

14. Yes, not shoot at first advance, but shoot after stern warning ...

yes!

[NQCowboy68]

15. Yes.

[Paladin]

16. Yes. (nt)

[MarcA]

17. Maybe they should use some of the high tech devices

they used on peaceful demonstrators.

[colsohlibgal]

18. Yes

Clear warnings should be posted around the Statehouses that anyone breaking past a clearly marked perimeter will be committing suicide by proxy.

This deranged mob needs to be snuffed out one way or another., hopefully many of these delusional people can be deprogrammed and brought back to reality.

[gulliver]

19. Absolutely.

Batons, tear gas, tasers, loud verbal warning. Maybe a second warning or warning shot. Then, unfortunately, deadly force has to be used. We're just lucky that so few were killed.

[AntiFascist]

20. Considering how the Twitter protest turned out...

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/11/22225721/twitter-protest-san-francisco-trump-stopthesteal-deplatforming

I think a line of properly armed riot police should do the trick in most states, the key concept being "properly armed," unlike the Capitol Police on the 6th.

[IsItJustMe]

21. Warnings, serious tear gas and water hoses if available, lock and load. In that order.

[Liberty Belle]

22. As a last resort only, if they breach the capitol or are harming officers or others outside.

If they are just marching and chanting, even offensive content, that is protected free speech.

If people begin throwing things at officers or charging toward the building, declare an unlawful assembly - have loudspeakers to be sure everyone hears it.

Those who refuse to disperse can all be arrested -- have lines of riot police to march them away from the capitol and into the paddy wagons or busses.

If they attempt to break into the capitol, and nonlethal weapons such as tear gas or pepper spray does not deter them, then firing with live ammunition at selective targets - not randomly spraying a crowd, would be permissible in this case to protect our halls of government and our elected leaders. There are extreme nonlethal weapons that I normally don't approve of, such as sonic weapons or water cannons, but if it avoids the need to kill them, even those might be appropriate in this crazy scenario if there are thousands of these deranged, armed nuts.

Targeting someone who is raising a gun, charging forward with a battering ram, someone poised to strike others on the head, would likely be deemed allowable. We don't want a Kent State type image of officers gunning down people who aren't armed or eminently dangerous.

Authorities could also have officers inside poised to arrest the first to breach the barrier, if any make it that far, and have a place and a plan for holding people in mass arrests if they have to let lesser offenders go to make room in the jails. They should all be fined at the very least, and many charged with more serious offensives up to and including treason. Book 'em on the spot - as many as possible. Have busloads waiting to haul them all to the prison or police station, and take away their weapons, too.

[Flaleftist]

23. Absolutely

Draw a line around the Capitol with chalk. Anyone who crosses gets their brains blown out.

This is no joke. They would have murdered any Democrat congress person if they had found them.

[CanonRay]

24. They didn't seem to have a problem with it at Kent State

[Turbineguy]

25. Warn them with a

strongly worded letter of concern. Put it in the mail.

Then shoot.

[Lars39]

26. White House has snipers etc that would.

All three branches of government should be heavily defended, imo.

[Crunchy Frog]

27. Tear gas, rubber bullets, fire hoses. Live ammo only if nothing else works.

With real security forces in place, they probably won't have to resort to lethal means, but they should certainly be prepared to do whatever it takes.

[Wednesdays]

28. Use the same weapons and tactics that's used against BLM

No more, no less.

[sir pball]

29. Yes, there needs to be a "deadline".

Normal police barricades in normal locations, but inside them, 10-12' or so, there should now be a simple line of police tape, or a sports-style line on the ground, with very clear notices that "BEYOND THIS LINE LETHAL FORCE IS AUTHORIZED". Hold the outer barriers with less-lethal ammunition, chemical agents, water cannons, &c...but if the deadline is crossed, live ammo can and must be used.

[dalton99a]

30. Yes. Live bullets will make them think twice.

[sarisataka]

31. Quite amazing how attitudes shift...

There is an entire spectrum of force which may be used in any situation. The lowest level of force which resolves the situation is the appropriate amount of force.

If lesser levels of force are ineffective or cannot be utilized due to rapidly escalating risk, then lethal force may be employed.

[Caliman73]

41. Agreed. It is kind of disturbing that emotions are overtaking reason so readily.

A lot of people here have been talking about the double standard between responses to BLM and White Supremacists or Right Wingers. That should not be an endorsement of violence against the White rioters but a condemnation of violence against BLM.

I know people are outraged, but we are talking about killing, murder even. I agree that the police and Guard should have the ability to use lethal force of non-lethal force fails to stop any rioting and violence toward them or directed at government officials. I don't agree with the calls to "let them have it".

[WhiskeyGrinder]

32. No.

[Marrah_Goodman]

33. As things are right now.... yes.

[bif]

34. Warn the protestors ahead of time.

Then let 'em have it!

[Raine]

35. NO. 👎 nt

[Gore1FL]

36. Yes. If they breech the doors, they should drop in the doorway.

On the outside, lethal force should be avoided.
The death penalty is wrong in all cases. Defense isn't the death penalty.

[Javaman]

37. There should be giant canisters of liquid soap at the top of the step

As they are all about half way up, dump the soap. Not only do you stop them, but hilarity ensues at their expense.

Call that a twofer lol

[Baclava]

38. Kent State x 10,000? U really want that?

[rockfordfile]

39. Yes. Because the word is out there about their true intentions.

[Caliman73]

40. Live & Lethal ammunition should only be used as a last resort.

Should they have the ability to defend themselves and the Capitols with deadly force? Yes. Should they have standing orders to shoot people for trying to breach? No. They should use non-lethal means as needed to disburse any rioters, but should have the ability to escalate if needed. They usually have their rules of engagement prior to the event.

[bdamomma]

42. The National Guard

must be enacted in these states. If the tRump cult has intention of harming people or destroying property they must be restrained.

Promptly. More Covid spread is being done, tRump is inciting his minions again.

Get him out now. Murderer/Russian asset.


To answer your question: Yes, and I hope all state capitals stand ready. This is an outright assault on our states.

[Maru Kitteh]

44. I was good with it on Wednesday. Scratch that, I was

SCREAMING AT MY TV to shoot those motherfuckers on Wednesday.