Gun Control & RKBA

oxbow

(2,034 posts) Sun Mar 17, 2013, 08:07 PM Mar 2013

Putting the "guns protect our democracy" argument to rest in one easy step [View all]

In a fight between an AR-15 and a jet, who do you think is going to win? To those who would arm themselves against the day that their government becomes a tyranny, I would just say this: the government has tanks. They have helicopters, missiles, troop carriers, etc., and endless rounds of ammunition and munitions for all of their military-grade gear.

Making it a right for most anyone to purchase an assault rifle is not a way of protecting liberty; it makes no difference, in the final equation. It does make it more likely that someone unbalanced will use an assault rifle to hurt people, however. When it comes to protecting our rights, I must say that the pen is mightier than the sword (or, keyboard mightier than the gun?)

This line of reasoning should shut down any overzealous "defenders" of our 2nd amendment, if not give them some food for thought.

128 replies

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Putting the "guns protect our democracy" argument to rest in one easy step [View all] oxbow Mar 2013 OP

Try to get that across to our mercymechap Mar 2013 #1

Sadly, the bullet-heads will only see it their way. lastlib Mar 2013 #3

gross. Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2013 #24

is your one word response (typical) supposed to convince anybody? CreekDog Mar 2013 #109

lovely to see you. Have a Nice Day Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2013 #123

gross. Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2013 #22

The REAL protector of our democracy is our VOTE and its wise use..... lastlib Mar 2013 #2

That's true, but it is really mercymechap Mar 2013 #7

Gerrymandering---the dirtiest open secret in American politics! oxbow Mar 2013 #9

"In a fight between an AR-15 and a jet who do you think is going to win?" holdencaufield Mar 2013 #4

**snort ** lastlib Mar 2013 #6

He's correct air power does NOT win wars Trunk Monkey Mar 2013 #54

What makes you think they attend NRA meeting where they are smokinging something you wish you had in xoom Mar 2013 #75

My statement was shot down?? Not by the guy w/ the AR15.... lastlib Mar 2013 #87

The whole government vs. the people scenario is ridiculous on its face... oxbow Mar 2013 #8

while your last paragraph has a point gejohnston Mar 2013 #11

"The whole government vs. the people scenario is ridiculous on its face..." holdencaufield Mar 2013 #13

No. Women did not get the right to vote at the barrel of a gun. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #76

Tell that to these kids holdencaufield Mar 2013 #83

Those are National Guard officers, not citizens gone wild with guns. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #91

wrong on both counts gejohnston Mar 2013 #92

I was a child when I saw that picture in a newspaper. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #96

You just shot down your own argument. Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #99

"The whole government vs. the people scenario is ridiculous on its face." Agreed, but it may be the AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #78

I don't know about that argument gejohnston Mar 2013 #5

If an insurgency cut off supply lines and communications, then they might have a chance oxbow Mar 2013 #10

You still seem to be assuming an intact or nearly-intact military. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2013 #26

there is a cyberwarfare command gejohnston Mar 2013 #30

That is only a superficial argument. krispos42 Mar 2013 #12

Thats certainly one scenario.. oxbow Mar 2013 #14

Remember, too, that there are hundreds of thousands... krispos42 Mar 2013 #37

As one who was there...how did Vietnam defeat the US ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #15

North Vietnam was a country a bit larger than your average trailer park. rdharma Mar 2013 #16

Just using a little reducto ad absurdum on the OP ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #17

"a little reducto ad absurdum" rdharma Mar 2013 #20

I'm here all week... ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #23

Hang in there, dude! rdharma Mar 2013 #29

I need to write better titles! oxbow Mar 2013 #18

The reality is that a 2nd revolution is absurd whether its by Occupy or the Tea Baggers ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #21

I never understood the Occupy movement to be about a 2nd revolution. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #77

Depends where you were ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #86

Where in the world was that? JDPriestly Mar 2013 #88

Yes we have learned a great deal about fighting an insurgency shedevil69taz Mar 2013 #70

So now the "professor" is a Vietnam Vet too, eh? Let's see*: you are a "self made milllionaire"; a apocalypsehow Mar 2013 #44

What about the "guns are fun" argument? hack89 Mar 2013 #19

I can't refute that! Guns are fun! rdharma Mar 2013 #25

I don't need to register my guns to be responsible hack89 Mar 2013 #27

"registration serves no purpose" rdharma Mar 2013 #33

And it is also difficult to ban can or confiscate unregistered firearms. (n/t) spin Mar 2013 #40

so much for supporting BainsBane Mar 2013 #46

Does the President actually call for registration? nt hack89 Mar 2013 #47

Do you have any statistics or data or other evidence to prove that assertion? JDPriestly Mar 2013 #79

how would registration prevent mass murder? gejohnston Mar 2013 #80

So do you want to just let nature take its course and have lots more JDPriestly Mar 2013 #90

my choice is doing what works gejohnston Mar 2013 #93

No, your choice is to do as little as possible, that's your first priority CreekDog Mar 2013 #110

Mine would actually be effective and fix the problem gejohnston Mar 2013 #113

you're saying my desire to change the gun culture to one of non violence is a band aid? CreekDog Mar 2013 #114

Cheap talk is cheap. Clames Mar 2013 #116

can you provide an example of my "cheap talk" about non violence? CreekDog Mar 2013 #117

Pretty much the majority of your posts on this group. Clames Mar 2013 #118

if you never leave this group how do you know what i've posted on non violence? CreekDog Mar 2013 #119

A whole lot of not very much. Clames Mar 2013 #120

please cite a post of mine on non violence which is a whole lot of not very much CreekDog Mar 2013 #121

I was actually referencing #119. Clames Mar 2013 #122

the "gun culture" is not the source of violence gejohnston Mar 2013 #124

oh the gun culture is a source of violence and death CreekDog Mar 2013 #125

bullshit gejohnston Mar 2013 #126

you're setting up a strawman now, which is not arguing in good faith CreekDog Mar 2013 #127

that is the definition of gun culture gejohnston Mar 2013 #128

You would have to ban and confiscate all semi-automatic firearms including handguns hack89 Mar 2013 #84

Good ideas. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #89

It will never happen in our lifetime though hack89 Mar 2013 #94

Agreed, The Red Dawn Style Fantasies Of Self-Styled Militia Members And Zealots Is Misplaced At Best cantbeserious Mar 2013 #28

So was the invasions that was the pretext for it ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #31

Don't Follow Your Point - Regardless, Defending Oneself From Drones And Other Flying Weapons cantbeserious Mar 2013 #32

Look back to Vietnam ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #34

"AR's are effective weapons against light troops" rdharma Mar 2013 #35

Some aircraft...Hueys, even the Yankee are still very soft targets and the Zulu is in some ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #36

Yeah, I noticed all those jets guided missile cruisers & tanks used by Afghan insurgents. Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #42

They gotta get out of it to take a shit sometime. AtheistCrusader Mar 2013 #49

You appear to know a little about "sophisticated sensor systems." ... spin Mar 2013 #41

Its from another life ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #58

Our use of technology to detect the movement of people and supplies was a great idea ... spin Mar 2013 #59

Damn...we both must be old at this point ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #61

We may be older but hopefully we have gained a little wisdom over the years. (n/t) spin Mar 2013 #62

Doesn't it ever occur to those of you who imagine these scenarios.... Clames Mar 2013 #38

Pockets Of The US Population Will Fight Others Not So Much cantbeserious Mar 2013 #39

No wonder our government gets into no-win wars: They adhere to the gun-control theory of warfare. Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #43

There are lots of highly educated people in the U.S..... CobblePuller Mar 2013 #103

you never post about education at DU CreekDog Mar 2013 #111

Creekdog setting the precise example that I was looking for. Clames Mar 2013 #115

You got a ton of the typical Gungeon "Bring It On!" replies from our "pro gun progressives"*, apocalypsehow Mar 2013 #45

I am a strong supporter of gun rights and the Second Amendment. ... spin Mar 2013 #63

Another thoughtful, and well-reasoned reply. There's a reason why you're about the only apocalypsehow Mar 2013 #64

Thanks for your support. ... spin Mar 2013 #65

I am a strong supporter of gun rights and the Second Amendment. ... Cummins14 Mar 2013 #98

Welcome to DU. ... spin Mar 2013 #100

"Bring It On!"? I've seen nothing here that could be construed that way. n/t CobblePuller Mar 2013 #104

How did that work out for us in Vietnam? AtheistCrusader Mar 2013 #48

Nobody made it a right to be able to purchase a rifle slackmaster Mar 2013 #50

I don't know... av8r1998 Mar 2013 #51

no retreat jimmy the one Mar 2013 #66

Not Hanoi, but Saigon. GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #68

damn.... av8r1998 Mar 2013 #69

OK. Colds/Flu are no fun. N/T GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #71

You make the mistake of assuming just what would Jenoch Mar 2013 #52

You are aware that just one guy with a rifle had the entire city of Los Angeles tied in knots right? Trunk Monkey Mar 2013 #53

And how did that work out for him? nt jmg257 Mar 2013 #55

He died Trunk Monkey Mar 2013 #56

The basic principle is he is now dead. And odds are any other asses who want to take on the jmg257 Mar 2013 #57

If that simplistic and flawed argument sylvi Mar 2013 #60

That's not the reason a revolution would fail. GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #67

my firearms are used protect me and the family first and foremost.... ileus Mar 2013 #72

Wasn't the US established because fredzachmane Mar 2013 #73

Indeed, and the first shots were fired over the citizens guns DemDealer Mar 2013 #74

fantasies of prohibition Niceguy1 Mar 2013 #81

Never expect logic to come from the illogical, defacto7 Mar 2013 #82

Even if standing up to tyranny would be futile, Bazinga Mar 2013 #85

How do you hold territory with a jet? iiibbb Mar 2013 #95

Those Syrian rebels should just give up madville Mar 2013 #97

Now, now.... don't be shoving a cold dose of reality into a warm, fuzzy delusion... CobblePuller Mar 2013 #105

My Favorite Wingnut has no illusions about defending democracy. His guns Jackpine Radical Mar 2013 #101

The Afghani's didn't get your memo.... CobblePuller Mar 2013 #102

What about.. inb4tehlulz Mar 2013 #106

No, there wouldn't be enough of an uprising. We elect our officials democratically. JaneyVee Mar 2013 #108

Ummm... what? gcomeau Mar 2013 #112

106 replies to date guardian Mar 2013 #107