If the protesters were unarmed, they would have a disparity of force that would not invite armed confrontation and bloodshed.
First. You are assuming that being unarmed precludes Government agents from assaulting or killing you. False premise.
Second. It is my/our God given right to self defense.
Third. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT be infringed.” I’m sure a lot of people in the U.S. don’t really understand this. Or if they do don’t really care. The 2nd amendment is worth fighting for.
Fourth. In the same context what does it matter if the protesters are armed or not? You would prefer them to be unarmed?
Having said that I’m reminded of a scene from Animal House. And here ‘tis:
Otter:
Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Bluto: We’re just the guys to do it.
They aren't going to come knocking with a candygram if you are armed, either. In fact, I can't think of a better way to guarantee or justify them coming in with force.
If the objective is to expose excessive government force, unarmed protest has generally been the most successful means. There is precedent.
It is my/our God given right to self defense.
It isn't self defense if you come into my living room uninvited and bearing a weapon. The invader, by an aggressive act voids that right, and it defers to the defender. Which is my point.
This action has placed the BLM in the role of the defender, not the aggressor. How does that show the government to be overbearing, invasive, or overly aggressive?
I am all for the RKBA, but would you extend that courtesy to someone who entered your garage without permission?
These people have entered a federally owned structure with weapons.
If the owners of record try to remove them, will they go in peacefully and unarmed? Against an armed invader?
What is the point, what is the objective of this exercise?
Frankly it has already failed.
Unless the idea is to get some people shot, and that will not play well for freedom loving nor RKBA loving people anywhere--and yes, I understand that right, I have exercised it for over 50 years.
If you are getting your strategy from Animal House, I think I see part of your problem.