this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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[–] TechyDad@lemmy.world 108 points 1 year ago (3 children)

All too often, the police act like wannabe Rambos - charging in with guns drawn, willing to shoot or kill any suspects in their way. The ONE time that this might have been welcomed and they decided to sit on the side and do nothing. Okay, maybe not nothing. They harassed parents who were screaming about their kids being killed.

[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 58 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Same thing with gun nuts defending the country from tyranny. Turns out when tyranny shows up wearing a red cap, defending the constitution isn't urgent.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a "gun nut". And if I see any red caps patrolling my voting place? Well, I'll just take a quick trip to the truck and back. And then we shall have a chat about just exactly what the fuck they think they're doing. If I have to stand there with a, "ALL are safe to vote here!" sign around my neck, I will do so. (That actually isn't a bad idea!)

That ain't bravado. I'd be scared shitless, shaking in my boots. But I know history, I'm old enough not to GAF and my little kids are young enough that I need to defend their future.

(As you might gather, I'm in a strange place for an American voter.)

[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 4 points 1 year ago

Hey I'd stand with you. I haven't held a gun in about 25 years, but I'd be there.

[–] chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz 29 points 1 year ago

willing to shoot or kill any unarmed suspects

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Time and time again: They'll gladly act when they can use overwhelming force. But when they are up against a similarly armed individual (ar-15 firing similar rounds to the military, body armor, etc), they cower in fear. Sometimes SWAT will actually act, but usually in situations where they can more or less level the building with tanks and explosives.

Its one of the best arguments for gun control. Because if we didn't have ready access to assault rifles that were literally designed for military purposes and that fire one of the nastier rounds in existence*, then maybe "a good guy with a gun" would have any effect at all.

And just in case anyone thinks bump stocks or illegal modifications will let them stand up to the army: the army has "real" tanks, air support, drones, and a lot more explosives per soldier. You won't stand a chance and, if anything, a concealable pistol chambered for one of the small caliber/high velocity rounds is more effective for a resistance force.

*: If anyone hasn't read this before, it is well worth the horror. Obviously lots of content warnings https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-damage-to-human-body/

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's so odd to see people putting words and ideas in my mouth. OTOH, I'm used to it.

No one thinks they can fight the military, no one has these bizarre fantasies. At least not among us "normal" gun nuts. I consume a fair deal of gun content on YouTube, and while I may be biased because I shy away from the right-wingers, I get not a single whiff of what you're talking about.

Can't find my old post in /r/liberalgunowners, but no one imagines a toe-to-toe fight. The US military, and even the cops, depend on civilian smarts, labor and supply chains. And those are easily disrupted. People point to Vietnam and Afghanistan as examples of poorly armed locals successfully fighting back. And those fights weren't in our literal backyards among our neighbors!

But to bring it closer to home; What does this particular lib do when the local Brown Shirts come knocking to disarm me "for my own good"? That seems a very real thing to me. So do I lay down and get on the train later? Or... what?

Thought experiment; Let's magically take every gun from every citizen excepting cops and military. How long you think until the GOP drops the hammer and goes full-on fascist? Deterrence is a thing. MAD got me through the 70s and 80s.

As to your link on the lethality of AR-15 rounds, paywalled, but I'm familiar. .223 or 5.56 rounds are tiny and hella fast. (My smart-assed take here: https://imgur.com/a/kolUESz.) The article's take is for people unfamiliar with the horrific damage rounds of all sorts impart. tl;dr: Bullets don't punch holes like an icepick. Shoot an empty vs. full can of beer with a .22, you'll get it quick. A bullet is the response of last resort.

(And BTW, an AR-15 is illegal to hunt with in some states because the round is not lethal enough for a clean kill.)

And yes, the AR-15 is a military rifle. The title, and possibly the poster (don't know his work), is revolting, but none the less, this is a solid history lesson. I had not thought all that through, but yes, the US civilian has always had better arms than the US military. The "military rifle/round" argument falls flat with me.

Look at it through a modern, more liberal lens and say, "I sure wish the cops could outgun us all! They're perfectly trustworthy utilizing deadly force!"

tl;dr

[–] TechyDad@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I love this comedian's take on the NRA "we can take on the military with our guns" types: https://youtu.be/WOSqCjMRXWA?si=TTFMx6fLMx_akDYl