Armed Mobs are Not “Militias”. They’re Just Armed Mobs
Gun nuts from all over the country crowded around the Virginia statehouse yesterday (on Martin Luther King Day) to protest laws that no one has proposed. Their main objections that caused their fake outrage was that the new Democratic majority was going to…I kid you not…to “shut down the internet”, “have no-knock raids on gun owners”, and to “start confiscating everyone’s guns”. This is in response to the state legislature’s consideration of improved background checks and limitations on the number of guns on can purchase in one month. That’s real tyranny, right? Generally, I find that those who parade around like this are either 1. Criminals who can’t legally own a firearm, 2. Right wing racists who try to piss off normal people by co-opting holidays like MLK day, 3. Mentally unstable, and 4. Compensating for a physical deficiency. Namely:
Most of said demonstrators yesterday were all dressed up in body armor, helmets, radio headsets, multiple firearms and vests that hold multiple high-capacity magazines. Many claimed they were members of “militias”. A news flash for these fine fellows – you’re not a member of a militia. You are a member of an armed mob. Militias come under federal, state and local authorities, and not just any group of idiots can dress up, and run around in the woods playing Army. Here’s a really good explanation of the laws surrounding actual militias.
I’ve found these folks impossible to talk with about their gun obsession. Their minds are so full on nonsense about the Second Amendment that they believe it was written to allow individual citizens to attack the government if they disagree with what their government is doing. The Second Amendment was added for the opposite reason, which was to provide a structure for federal, state, and local governments to protect from insurrections and attacks from standing armies (like the British). So much bullshit has been pumped into the public domain about guns that we have the result today of thousands of gun nuts protesting laws that are not proposed. And most of the media let them get away with that.
I heard interviews of the protestors on the radio yesterday. Nearly every idiotic rationale and justification was aired, such as “it’s the person not the gun” that kill people. And “it’s already against the law to kill people.” And of course “that guy in a rage killed some people up in New York with his truck and we don’t confiscate trucks do we?” Don’t forget “God given right” was used.
Then of course there were the so-called “law enforcement” officers, openly declaring they will protect people’s rights instead of enforcing “illegal” laws. Most of the counties in Virginia have declared themselves “sanctuaries” where gun control laws won’t be enforced.
What makes people this level of nuts?
I know and the clue is right there. In the demonstration there were no ranks of police in riot gear. Had this been an angry crowd of mostly non-white people would that have been the case? I suspect not. It would be like Ronald Reagan as California governor suddenly seeing merit in gun control laws. Look it up if you don’t know what I am talking about.
At the end of the day this is about white supremacy, not gun rights. The same as it is for MAGA.
1I’m wondering if the Russian misinformation specialists have been stirring the ‘crazy stew’ these ‘patriots’ have been consuming.
2I’m so grateful it remained peaceful. Tho ripple effect was that other groups that would go lobby (MLK day has become lobby day for Virginians) did not dare take the chance. A friend with a special needs kid usually goes with her group to lobby for resources for their kids. Did not dare to yesterday. Chris Hurst let kids from March for Our Lives stay in his office overnight so they did not have to go thru a potentially hostile crowd to lobby the legislators.
3Alan @1: “It would be like Ronald Reagan as California governor suddenly seeing merit in gun control laws. Look it up if you don’t know what I am talking about. At the end of the day this is about white supremacy, not gun rights.”
Exactly right. What Alan is referencing was a bill called the Mulford Act, passed in 1967 by the Calif Legislature (bipartisan, with a 2/3 majority in both houses) that repealed the State’s “open carry” law. The impetus, to the shock of absolutely no one, was that *black people* (specifically the Oakland Black Panthers) had taken to open carrying while patrolling in the community to keep an eye on the (almost all white) Oakland Police. Well, this was Simply. Not. Done.
Reagan actively supported the bill, declaring that there was “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons” and that guns were a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan added that the Mulford Act “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.” [quotes courtesy of wikipedia]
A year or two ago there were various groups of goobers, mostly in Texas (no offense JJ) who took to parading around Krogers with their AR 15s while loading up on Double Stuffed Oreos in order to demonstrate….something something whatever. I wondered what would happen if a similarly armed group of non-white people tried that. Well not “wonder” exactly, we all know damn well what would have happened.
4Oh, hell, just lock ’em all up in the basement of Walmart and be done with it. I am so sick of these weenieless weenies.
52A’s primary purpose was to enable slave catchers to legally carry guns across state lines, in pursuit of their prey. it had little to do with helping protect the newly formed country from possible foreign invasion, and nothing at all to do with giving citizen joe the ability to defend himself against a tyranical state. it was all about slavery/white supremacy. and has been, ever since.
6Yeah, What the hell was that mob about?
Virginia legislator Lee Carter wrote a bill to allow teachers to strike. Pro-gun activists wrongly concluded it threatens their rights
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/17/virginia-lee-carter-school-strike-bill-guns
7Don’t be so kind to militias. Their only function was to shoot workers. They never refused.
Militias don’t (often) shoot workers any more, but that’s due to the courage of Gov. Frank Murphy of Michigan. Look him up.
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