Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I assumed they were loaded—my mistake. I am ignorant about guns.
I assumed when people strap on a handgun, it is loaded and they anticipate a potential need to shoot something, or somebody.
The “macho man, look at me, I carry a gun, I am a real man” mentality did not occur to me.
From that perspective, it is crystal clear.

Najataagihe

Your point was quite clear and it would take a narrow-minded enthusiast to intentionally misread it.

It is the circumstances of the protest that are not simple.


I agree there was no need to openly display the bullet launchers, unless they were anticipating immediate, violent reaction to their protest (unlikely).

The presence of bullet launchers CAN provide a deterrent effect against criminal violence in a mob setting.

(It can also incite violence on an individual level - not so much with mobs.)


Any Viet Nam vet who has been spit upon and had bottles, rocks and other debris thrown at them just because they were soldiers (not necessarily even in uniform, just guilty of having a short haircut) understands that the cowards who would do such things reconsider their intentions in the presence of firearms.

Most younger firearms owners realize this, as well.


The proper question would be, "Is the risk of a mentally deficient person being armed at the protest greater than an attack from those who disagree with the protest?"

Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. I wasn't there.


You seem to be assuming that any gathering of bullet-launcher-toters must have SOMEBODY in the group with a screw or two loose.

What would be most likely to happen, if such a dipstick were to try to fire one for no legally justifiable reason, is that those around him would disarm him and beat the snot out of him for giving the rest of them a bad name.


Personally, I am all in favor of concealed carry in any circumstance, but open carry seems unnecessary, if not provocative - unless you are going to or from a range or other shooting activity.

Leaving the firearms at home when going into a potentially dangerous situation is fairly stupid, in my opinion.

Carrying one in plain sight (outside of imminent combat) is also stupid as it could be provocative and definitely identifies you as a primary target.


If your problem is with a politician (as this protest seems to be), remember:

We put them in office and we can throw them out.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

They are closer than six feet and I don't see many masks. That is a problem.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

You make it too complicated, or I am just too ignorant about guns to understand.

I take my camera with me when I anticipate the desire or need to take pictures, and I always load it with a memory card.
I thought gun owners loaded up their guns for the same reason. Today, I have learned that guns are props, designed to intimidate or scare people, to make a point of some kind of power, or to inflate the gun wearer’s ego as a macho, tough, no nonsense hombre.
If the world knew these guns were not loaded, they could quickly lose their effect, and I fear the owners would be exposed as hollow men, pretending to be something that they are not, without the sterner stuff they would need to follow through.
Seriously, I thought the “don’t carry a gun unless you have the metal to use it”, was a steadfast principle.
Unloaded guns, displayed on the hips of macho men is a real-let down for me.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Depending on the circumstances, when people strap on a handgun they most likely are loaded. But this is not about carrying handguns for protection but carrying rifles in a peaceful demonstration. It is an apples to oranges point. I carry a loaded handgun but I personally do not believe in carrying a rifle down the street. I feel it might be legal but is not necessary and makes a negative point about firearm owners. But some people do feel the need to carry a rifle in plain view to point out it is legal. I think it is foolish.

I am not saying nor have I said that I would have carried a rifle to the demonstration. I am simply explaining why I think those protestors who did carry a rifle did so. They apparently had a legal right to carry the rifles and did it to make a point. Hopefully the point was well taken by those government people who were trying to take away their right to assemble. THAT my friend is the point. I would also have worn a mask if I was going to protest. But they did not.

May I suggest if you are ignorant about guns that you find a friend, relative, neighbor or someone who is into firearms and go shooting with them. You would find it relaxing and enjoyable. Remember that the government who is trying to take away the rights of firearms owners is the very same government taking away your right to own firearms as well. These are your rights under the Constitution too. Remember that a right, once taken away, will never be given back. Our Founding Fathers did all Americans a huge favor by giving us the Constitution. No other country in the world has the rights that free Americans have. That includes you.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I haven't heard of any mass epidemic because those people didn't wear masks, have you? Please don't tell me there is a v***s. No kidding. But take a look at any group photo across America. You will see hundreds of people not wearing masks. Like you I believe those people should have been wearing masks. But considering the amount of people who don't wear masks they are like a drop in the bucket.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Handguns carried on the hips of the wearers are loaded in almost every circumstance. That is a fact. If not loaded then the person carrying the gun is a fool. But this post is talking about the rifles carried by protestors to demonstrate if their 1st Amendment rights are taken away by government then the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms will come into play.

I invite you to come to Idaho and go shooting with me. I will be surprised if you do not enjoy it from the outset.

Dennis

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My answer to the question is that this is a problem.

When and where was this photo taken?
Part of our problem is that this v***s is very very contagious.
By the time people feel sick, the demonstrators will have scattered, and right now we are very poor at tracing it - which is a major part of the request that they are ignoring.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

With all respect, I still don’t see the need for guns, loaded or unloaded, at what is planned to be a peaceful demonstration.
I know that shooting is an enjoyable hobby, that I would enjoy.
But, not at this late date.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Yeah, yeah, yeah. There are many parts of America where there is no v***s at all. I have heard you before with your, Sky is Falling, We're all going to die, rhetoric. Sorry to disappoint but I doubt that is going to happen. As for the v***s we will always have a hard time tracing it. If I am infected and walk down the street and cough into my hand and then shake someone's hand that is a stranger, that strange touches a door handle of a convenience store and the v***s spreads from there. Now tell us how that is going to be traced.

I can see it now. Somebody sick tells some doctor, I don't know. I only touched the handle to the nearest 7-11 and now a week later I am sick. Well that does narrow it down to 50 or 60 thousand people to look into.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Think of the firearms as props only to let our government know that the 2nd Amendment is still alive and well.
There was no plan to shoot anyone, threaten anyone, scare anyone. They were carried as a reminder that we are free Americans.

I have heard that there are upwards of over 350 million guns in America. If guns were really a problem don't you think you would hear more about it? 99.9% of gun owners are safe and sane men and women who simply enjoy shooting in various ways, collecting, shooting targets, shooting clay targets, shooting at long ranges, hunting small game and big game for the table and for self protection. Not one of those factors presents a threat to any other person.

Dennis

adrianpd

People seem to have missed the point. Charles Darwin is referring to evolutionary pressures. These people will die out - survival of the fittest i.e. those best suited to survive in a world of v***ses.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Valid point.
I need to get my affairs in order.

Haenzel Loc: South Holland, The Netherlands

Looks like the A-team is back! Where is B.A.?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Most people have very few contacts in a day - today we are asked to reduce it even further.
That is the problem with the scene pictured here - people choosing to ignore this request.

No, the sky is not falling, but even Mr. Trump recognizes that the situation is not good.