You think the gov is afraid that the tea party will challenge them?
I will say it here. If there is an uprising in the streets, the US government will fire upon its citizens.
Given the experiences of David Koresh and Vicki Weaver, that's not exactly going out on a limb.
And then the U.S. Government will start to be picked off from ambush, by IED, by unexplained "accidents", by home and office fires, one, two or a few at a time. Start with THOSE WHO GIVE THE ORDERS.
Pick your targets NOW, so you've determined the survivable way to get to them when the confiscations start.
The gunning has fired on civilians every time it has felt the need. Check Ludlow Massacre, Bonus Army, and others. These were long befor Waco or Ruby Ridge.