'If others have rifles, we'll have rifles': why leftist groups are taking up arms

[friendly_iconoclast]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/22/if-others-have-rifles-well-have-rifles-why-leftist-groups-are-taking-up-arms

Kim Kelly in Seattle
Mon 22 Jul 2019 01.00 EDT


The van lumbered down one of Seattle’s many steep hills. A half dozen people packed inside but despite the heat, most wore long pants and boots, and several sported black hoodies. The atmosphere was subdued, except for the occasional joke. It wasn’t so much tension as seriousness – there was work to be done.

The people in the van are members of the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club (PSJBGC). Their stated aim is to fight white supremacy and build community defense in America’s Pacific Northwest, and their presence has become a fixture of protests in the Seattle and Tacoma areas, where the group is often invited to provide security against rightwing aggression.

The night before, several of them had been called to a library in nearby Renton, Washington, where a Drag Story Time Hour, an event series in which a local drag queen or drag king reads to children in a library or bookstore, was being disrupted by rightwing protesters. The protesters, who opposed the event as “immoral”, held up signs equating drag with pedophilia, and screamed “Shame! Shame!” at parents and their kids. Among them were members of the Proud Boys, a violent rightwing street gang, and Three Percenters militia, who were open-carrying firearms.

The north-west has been at the center of tense political clashes over the last two years. The area is an adopted home base for far-right groups like Patriot Prayer, Identity Evropa/American Identity Movement and the Proud Boys, who have organized numerous marches that have ended in violence. In response, a range of leftist groups have organized self defence groups and, in doing so, present gun ownership as a way to protect themselves and others...

An unfortunate, but necessary, development- no amount of well-meaning laws will disarm violent right-wingers.

[tymorial]

1. Oh yeah this will go well

One of these days these two groups will start shooting each other and some innocent bystander will be killed. It won't matter which side fired the shot..

[friendly_iconoclast]

9. Strongly worded expressions of concern aren't stopping neofascists

What do you think ought to be done about them?

[tymorial]

12. I am never going to support violence

Eom

[pecosbob]

2. I have worried about false flag 'leftist' activities 'coming to light' a lot lately...

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. Much, if not most, of the hooded antifa are plants. I think these people are for real

Of course, if you've any evidence they're not I'm sure we'd all be grateful if you would post it...

[pecosbob]

8. I didn't mean to indicate that

Just voicing the same thing you just posted.

[Locrian]

3. isn't there a book on guns in american history?

With regard to the left?

I seem to remember the black panthers and other groups causing a stir.
Weren't some attempts at gun laws due to the "liberals" ?

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/09/the-secret-history-of-guns/308608/

[The Mouth]

6. Yep

Gun control in California came courtesy of Reagan as a response to the Black Panthers carrying arms.

I'll disarm as soon as the last MAGAt does, not until.

[MarvinGardens]

10. +1

I'll disarm as soon as the last MAGAt does, not until.

[gordianot]

4. Some have always had rifles.

They are not stupid enough to threaten others or think they stand a chance in an armed insurrection. Show me a private militia group of armed fools and I’ll show you the soon to be deceased.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. I'll leave this here:

"Though defensive violence will always be a sad necessity in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men." St. Augustine A.D. 354-430

[MarvinGardens]

11. Good. This needs to happen to counterbalance the armed right.

Here, local JBGC can be seen accompanying anti-racist counterprotestors. Well, it was supposed to be a counterprotest, but the fascists didn't show. It's about 1/3 of the way down the page.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rightwing-rally-fizzles-in-georgia-kkk-burned-in-effigy_n_5c5678c7e4b09293b204c473