Eegore and I have gone back and forth on the topic of what would happen if the government decide to take on its citizens. But it's gotten lost in another thread. So here's a new one.

The original intent of the 2nd Amendment was to ensure citizens we're armed with personal firearms in order to act as a militia. And as a militia, the possibility existed that they would in fact be asked to fight against their own government.

As time has gone on, we've evolved in the way in which we define the words in the Amendments and Constitution. The classic case is defining the right to privacy which was the basis for the abortion decision, but there are certainly others.

Some are saying that the weapon technology of the modern US military makes the idea of an armed citizenry taking a stand against them an impossibility. Therefore, the guarantees of firearm ownership are practically speaking negated. Also, some would argue the word 'militia' in the amendment throws yet another monkey wrench into the mix.

I think that's a weaker argument. For now, let's focus on the first topic which is could a citizenry armed with commercially available weapons, fend off our government if it decided for whatever reason to turn our military on us. (also, for the purposes of this, set aside the possibility we are over run by a foreign invading force and our military has been routed)

Could an armed citizenry make a stand against the US military?

NOTE: let's lay off the personal attacks. We can do that in plenty of other threads. Also, no posting published articles of great length. Use your own experiences and understanding to answer.

Its a much, much different situation, but take a look at Hong Kong right now.

It seems hard to imagine, but pretend. What if an administration 12 or 16 years from now began taking those steps. They interfered with election, local law enforcement and various other steps. Pretend things got bad, really bad. Pretend the left and right banded together and began protesting. It was growing and the government responded harshly. Things got out of control and boom.......

Could an armed citizenry with commercially available weapons somehow fight back?

"It was growing and the government responded harshly."

 What limits, if any, are imposed on the resources available to the US Government CENTCOM?

WebsterMark wrote on 08/13/19 at 08:55:05:



Honestly - no.

The world where millions would ban together and fight against some sort of tyrannical government is fictional.

It makes for great movie plots, but that's about it.

I'll bring up the whole bundy militia thing again.  Here was a group of people who had a lot of power in that area of the country.  Even with that, they couldn't muster up much support.

I think that's what you'd see all over.  Apathy, not unity.

T And T Garage wrote on 08/13/19 at 10:11:10:



Yeah, I bet they said that in 1776.....

And in Russia in 1917.....

And unfortunately many more to cite.....

Best regards,

pg wrote on 08/13/19 at 10:47:42:

would have someone like trump removed if he refused to go.

The whole point of this is to a mental exercise. Run with it. Could an armed citizenry make a stand against a US military?

"However, I respond again, why didn't we do that in Afghanistan? Why not on any of the numerous countries we've been involved against? "

 I will answer that again:

 The Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989

https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/senate-bill/993/text

 Also there is a considerable difference between US use of force models in other countries and on US soil.  For instance we may show restraint against Afghanistan insurgents in Afghanistan but if they came in through Mexico and attempted invasion in El Paso we would use totally different guidelines for engagement.  

 To ask what would be done here, on US soil, to US citizens then comparing those actions to Foreign combatants on foreign soil is a futile exercise.  

 We don't kill enemy combatants the same way anywhere, so comparing Afghanistan to an imaginary US Rebellion is no different than comparing Afghanistan to Germany, Kuwait, Korea, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Honduras, Vietnam, etc.  That conversation will be never-ending as there are too many variables.