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Gun rights groups concerned over protestors carrying firearms at rallies
Washington Times ^ | August 22, 2017 | Andrea Noble

Posted on 08/23/2017 9:00:10 AM PDT by Mafe

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To: RepRivFarm

This has nothing to do with the revolution. At that time people armed to defend our nation and establish our independence. Today, we have a nation, and we should be respectful of it. If you were bringing weapons to a demonstration, and you are not respectful of war you are attempting to overthrow our country and its laws, then you are subject to being shot if you’re not arrested and charged with insurrection. So it comes down to are you an American or a combatant or criminal?


21 posted on 08/23/2017 10:15:40 AM PDT by Reno89519 (Drain the Swamp is not party specific. Lyn' Ted is still a liar, Good riddance to him.)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: Mafe

Discretely carrying (not necessarily concealed, but also not making-a-point visible) is normal. That’s fine for an organized protest, where you might (as in unlikely, and just carrying as routine) have to fight your way out of it. Pistols are generally defensive, conveniently at-hand with near zero inconvenience, able to stop an immediate threat and/or extract from the position.

Overtly carrying (to wit visually shouting “I’m armed, don’t f with me” borderline brandishing) is abnormal. You wouldn’t do it as routine mundane EDC, and doing so at a protest is presumably intimidation. Rifles & shotguns are generally offensive, not convenient and requiring constant attention & handling, carried because you expect a lethal battle and intend to dominate/win/conquer.

You have a long gun for home defense because you intend to stand _your_ ground against others who know they shouldn’t be there and seek to dominate it.
You have a handgun for EDC self-defense because you intend to instantly terminate threats and/or extract from the position.
There’s a difference.

If you’re switching from EDC pistol to CQB rifle/shotgun in preparation for going somewhere, think long & hard about why you’re going there.
Yes, the first rule of gunfighting is “have a gun”.
Remember, the first rule of general self-defense is “don’t be there”.

And yes, we know the difference between carrying for protection vs carrying to make a point or be a jerk. Don’t try to tell me you’re legitimately & properly carrying a .308 to a tense protest _just_ for mundane self-defense - you’re either hoping for an epic shoot-out, or intend to intimidate others into submission.

CCW at an Antifa-targeted event is appropriate. You just want to stop someone from cracking your skull with a lock in a sock.
Rifles at the Bundy Ranch standoff was appropriate. Force was brought to subjugate, force was brought to answer, both stared down and left without a shot.
The guys making a point of carrying rifles into Starbucks, not incidental to any other activity, were jerks.

Don’t be a jerk.


23 posted on 08/23/2017 10:18:04 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (It's not "white privilege", it's "Puritan work ethic". Behavior begets consequences.)
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To: Mafe
One leftist group has been bringing -- apparently -- Airsoft (replica) rifles to protests.

(Which seems one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard of.)

24 posted on 08/23/2017 10:25:21 AM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Gun buybacks are one of the most ineffectual public policies that have ever been invented")
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To: ctdonath2

BTW: if you ARE going to carry a rifle to a protest, reconsider whether you should be going to the protest - or going to the opposition’s staging areas & command centers.

Don’t claim be “taking it seriously enough to need a rifle” and then just go where signs are waved and slogans yelled.


25 posted on 08/23/2017 10:28:03 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (It's not "white privilege", it's "Puritan work ethic". Behavior begets consequences.)
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To: Sooth2222

“One leftist group has been bringing — apparently — Airsoft (replica) rifles to protests.”

Staggering stupidity.


26 posted on 08/23/2017 10:28:38 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (It's not "white privilege", it's "Puritan work ethic". Behavior begets consequences.)
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To: Ancesthntr
It actively sets back our agenda of normalizing firearms in the public’s mind, and detoxifying the image of guns and gun owners that has been put forth by the statists over the last century or more.

That's a milquetoast agenda. I want them to be afraid - very afraid - and know that I have no problems shooting someone who is an immediate danger to either myself, my family or my Constitution. THAT'S what guns are for, not for decoration and "normalization".

27 posted on 08/23/2017 10:35:02 AM PDT by dware (If you think voting still works, you're part of the problem. The ballot box is broken.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
Such protests by a group of citizens against a group of citizens who dare think differently than the former, is not an appropriate venue for open carry of a long gun. It's like smoking a cigarette at a gas station.

Screw it. When they beat you about the head and neck with their own weapons, or worse yet, they shoot YOU because you brought a protest sign to a gun fight, don't bother whining about it.

28 posted on 08/23/2017 10:36:08 AM PDT by dware (If you think voting still works, you're part of the problem. The ballot box is broken.)
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To: G Larry
Open carry at a protest is a bad idea.

Antifa WILL be armed. Hope your protest sign protects you.

29 posted on 08/23/2017 10:37:16 AM PDT by dware (If you think voting still works, you're part of the problem. The ballot box is broken.)
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To: Bob434
The right is losing the battle- our history is being attacked as we speak- Why?

Because we carry protest signs to a gun fight.

30 posted on 08/23/2017 10:39:14 AM PDT by dware (If you think voting still works, you're part of the problem. The ballot box is broken.)
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To: Mafe
I swear, by the way so-called "patriots" act, by the time the currently cold civil war goes hot, "Conservatives" are going to be saying:

"Alright, let's look at this calmly - we have jobs, and cars and trucks and SUV's and ATV's and boats and mortgages to pay for. We can't just be running off nilly willy to fight some civil war. How else am I going to feed my kids or clothe them or make sure they have insurance? I CAN'T go fight no civil war! I gotta pay muh bills!"

31 posted on 08/23/2017 10:42:25 AM PDT by dware (If you think voting still works, you're part of the problem. The ballot box is broken.)
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To: dware

The people showing up at protests are not defending the Constitution, they’re defending and promoting their agenda, and intimidating anyone who doesn’t. You need to look at the big picture here, we have armed groups showing up at Bundy and Hammond protests, you’ve got the BLM, you got Antifa, Black Panthers, and others. Lots of example in recent history of people bearing arms of all sorts to promote their anti-American, anti-constitutional agenda, their criminal behavior, etc. we don’t need this, that is not the intent of the Second Amendment to aid in criminal or insurrectionist behavior. Carrying a weapon individually, e.g. concealed, for your personal defense is one thing, forming and showing up as a militia or gang, I don’t see the difference here since they were not called up by the state, is simply unacceptable, wrong, and downright dangerous to citizens and the community. If violence errupted, from or by these people, we would not be able to stop a serious restrictions of our Second Amendment rights.


32 posted on 08/23/2017 10:43:37 AM PDT by Reno89519 (Drain the Swamp is not party specific. Lyn' Ted is still a liar, Good riddance to him.)
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To: dware

Didn’t say anything about bringing a firearm. Just about open carry of a long gun to such an event. If I were to attend such an event, I’d be carrying and would respond to any assault on my person. That’s a certainty.


33 posted on 08/23/2017 10:49:17 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts ("Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." - Will Rogers)
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To: Mafe

But Bats are OK:-)


34 posted on 08/23/2017 11:08:04 AM PDT by Harpotoo
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To: bgill

These paid actors cultivated from Craig’s list and typical Soros fronts running around with weapons are plain laughable. I do agree that something bad will happen with these freaks and that’s the goal.


35 posted on 08/23/2017 11:09:12 AM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts; dware

Being armed, preferably concealed, is a nobrainer. That is different than open carry, especially those carrying dreaded ‘assault weapons.” If allowed, I conceal carry everywhere. At a protest, definitely. But why announce it? Why make yourself the first target?


36 posted on 08/23/2017 11:10:12 AM PDT by Reno89519 (Drain the Swamp is not party specific. Lyn' Ted is still a liar, Good riddance to him.)
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To: PROCON

I’ve been open carrying a handgun since TX changed the law, nobody seems to pay and attention. Then again I’m not looking around to see if they do. Carried a weapon for the citizens of this country, carried a weapon for the citizens of this county, now I carry one for this citizen and his family.


37 posted on 08/23/2017 11:13:18 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: Reno89519

attending a protest armed is ‘criminal behavior? Wow!

Armed protesters ARe protecting this nation, AND protecting their right to be heard against a violent and bloody uprising by a small group of radical violent antifa thugs who wish to force their ignorant country destroying values on this country via mob rule- A group of patriotic people standing around a statue sends the message we this country will not tolerate mob rule dictating what our history is and is not-

The left have gone way way beyond simple protests- They are bashing people in the head with de4adly objects- they are stabbing people- throwing bodily fluids=- likely infected with deadly diseases at people- trying to burn others- Stabbing people, etc etc etc- The left are violently trying to force their idiotic agenda on this country precisely because noone was willing to confront them in an effective manner- Signs are meaningless- The left have escalated this to the point that it is no longer a simple protest on their part- it is an outright all-out assault on our country and it’s history and values and on our rules and laws-

The ones breaking the law are the left who are routinely assaulting people with deadly weapons and bodily fluids-

The only ‘insurrection’ here is the left rebelling against this country and trying to force their ideology on us- Standing around a statue armed, in an effort to protect our history, is NOT an insurrection- The left stabbing people, attempting to burn them- throwing bodily fluids on them etc IS an insurrection- -

Hence treason armed citizenry are taking a stand against the few who are attempting to take over our country’s values and rules system via mob rule and violence- It sends the message that IF the left proceed to attack the right with violence, the right WILL stand up for itself against the attempts of the left to destroy this country- The right’s voices will NOT be squelched by violent leftist thugs- ever! The right have a right to protect themselves against violent leftist thugs who threaten and assault them with deadly objects and dangerous materials- The right have a right to be heard- and to be heard without the fear of being assaulted and murdered for it-

Don’t forget- this is a mob rule attempt, funded and supported by a very powerful rich man- Soros- who is well known for attempting to topple governments- This isn’t a game anymore- the left are violently attacking people now- and destroying people’s livelihoods- and they are attacking our police forces in an effort to force the law to abide by leftist ideology— The left aren’t playing ‘innocent games’ here - they mean business- and there is a concerted organized very serious effort to dismantle this nation and it’s values and laws in an effort to subject us to a filthy socialist ideology That hates American values and what this nation stands for- Does the right sit back and allow the left to destroy this nation out of fear that it won’t ‘look good’ to stand up to them?

The right is losing the battle- our history is being attacked as we speak- Why? Because the left know that the right are not serious about protecting it- The left are forcing their ideology and agenda on this country via mob rule- and people are getting hurt in the process-

The left have gone way way beyond merely protesting- they are now forcing their ideology on this country via violence and mob rule precisely because they know there is no real serious opposition to them doing so- The right gave them an inch- the left took a mile- and will continue to walk all over the right UNLESS the right stands up to them

This is escalating to the point where this is what the second amendment was all about- The citizenry majority protecting this nation against rogue violent entities who wish to destroy the nation and violate our constitutional rights via bullying and violence


38 posted on 08/23/2017 11:18:30 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Bob434

[[Hence treason armed citizenry]]

Correction: Hence —the— reason armed citizenry


39 posted on 08/23/2017 11:20:40 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

Carrying a long gun to these protests/riots to intimidate the the other side should be considered brandishing and that’s illegal most everywhere, is it not? A concealed handgun for your personal protection is a completely different matter. I carry concealed almost everywhere I go these days. I’m too danged old for fistfighting.


40 posted on 08/23/2017 11:23:16 AM PDT by beelzepug (Anybody I attack may rest assured it's personal!)
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