Leftist Militias: Should Liberals Be Pro-Second Amendment?

[Ors Might]

I imagine the ability to kill slave owners plays a significant part in setting slaves free.

Guns also set slaves in America free by virtue of the fact that the North could make and supply more of them to its armies than the South could.

Similarly, the Jews were set free through armed conflict with the Third Reich.

Hell, you could argue that it’s kind of impossible to enslave somebody with plentiful access to both guns and ammunition. It’s almost as if self-defense as a concept is integral to the notion of personal freedoms.

[Licana]

Second, there's the assumption on the left - especially overseas - that American gun owners are all NRA members who see firearms ownership in inflexible, insurrectionist terms.

k e k. I wish that NRA members were more like this and less like how you describe yourself, they might actually get something done if that were the case.

[Grinning Dragon]

I'm sure you can explain how...

It's just dumb and reductionist. Guns didn't set the Native Americans free. Guns didn't set the Slaves free. They didn't set the Jews free and they won't keep the Kurds free.

Plus in a less abstract sense, I am not a slave for not owning a gun, nor is any of the, what, 50% of American adults who do not own a gun. Nor are you any "freer" for owning one.

You're missing the point in William Blackstone's quote.
Free men being able to possess arms is just one important aspect of individual rights, enumerating a negative right that recognizes that individual's right to possess arms, is already one step above in terms of freedom over individuals whose govt's prohibit the ownership of arms.

[Len Hyet]

I'm sure you can explain how...

It's just dumb and reductionist. Guns didn't set the Native Americans free. Guns didn't set the Slaves free. They didn't set the Jews free and they won't keep the Kurds free.

Plus in a less abstract sense, I am not a slave for not owning a gun, nor is any of the, what, 50% of American adults who do not own a gun. Nor are you any "freer" for owning one.

stares in Haganah

Literally what crack are you smoking.

I mean what? Guns didn't set the slaves free? Are you kidding? I mean great meme if so, but if not, what?

[Valrifell]

Guns also set slaves in America free by virtue of the fact that the North could make and supply more of them to its armies than the South could.

Similarly, the Jews were set free through armed conflict with the Third Reich.

Hell, you could argue that it’s kind of impossible to enslave somebody with plentiful access to both guns and ammunition. It’s almost as if self-defense as a concept is integral to the notion of personal freedoms.

That wouldn't be a valid or correct argument but, sure, it could be created.

[Conserative Morality]

stares in Haganah

Literally what crack are you smoking.

I mean what? Guns didn't set the slaves free? Are you kidding? I mean great meme if so, but if not, what?

Privately owned guns didn't set the slaves free. Government artillery set the slaves free. Privately owned guns kept them in bondage for a few more years.

[Telconi]

stares in Haganah

Literally what crack are you smoking.

I mean what? Guns didn't set the slaves free? Are you kidding? I mean great meme if so, but if not, what?

Privately owned guns didn't set the slaves free. Government artillery set the slaves free. Privately owned guns kept them in bondage for a few more years.

TIL abolitionist militias didn't exist, fugitive slave patrols weren't government law enforcement, and the CSA wasn't real.

[Ors Might]

Hell, you could argue that it’s kind of impossible to enslave somebody with plentiful access to both guns and ammunition. It’s almost as if self-defense as a concept is integral to the notion of personal freedoms.

That wouldn't be a valid or correct argument but, sure, it could be created.

I don’t know, I’ve never heard of someone armed to the teeth being enslaved. Typically, it’s the defenseless that are victimized.

[Len Hyet]

stares in Haganah

Literally what crack are you smoking.

I mean what? Guns didn't set the slaves free? Are you kidding? I mean great meme if so, but if not, what?

Privately owned guns didn't set the slaves free. Government artillery set the slaves free. Privately owned guns kept them in bondage for a few more years.

Actually for the most part the guns used by the CSA were weapons seized from Union armories and purchased from Britain and France.

But that's not what IR said.

[Ors Might]

Privately owned guns didn't set the slaves free. Government artillery set the slaves free. Privately owned guns kept them in bondage for a few more years.

TIL abolitionist militias didn't exist, fugitive slave patrols weren't government law enforcement, and the CSA wasn't real.

I think he’s trying to say civilians have a right to heavy duty artillery, which I one hundred percent support.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Basically I’m opposed to political militia in general

[The Galactic Liberal Democracy]

I think he’s trying to say civilians have a right to heavy duty artillery, which I one hundred percent support.

The government should only exist for useful things like this. We need free training for heavy artillery and government provided ammo.

[Ors Might]

I think he’s trying to say civilians have a right to heavy duty artillery, which I one hundred percent support.

The government should only exist for useful things like this. We need free training for heavy artillery and government provided ammo.

I won’t rest until every American above the age of sixteen has access to a fully automated battleship!

[Salus Maior]

Citizen militia won't be a match for a professional army.

Nations don't invade each other anymore, anyway.

And the Great War was the war that ended all wars, right?

[The Empire of Pretantia]

So two invasions.

What's the measure of "much?"

That the trend of hot direct nation on nation action is provably negative. That is to say, fewer and fewer invasions have occurred since the end of WW2.

So? Doesn't mean they don't or won't happen. Nor does it mean an armed populace is unable to do absolutely anything about it.

I'm sure you can explain how...

It's just dumb and reductionist. Guns didn't set the Native Americans free.

Because Americans had more.

Guns didn't set the Slaves free.

Because the slaves didn't have guns.

They didn't set the Jews free

Because they didn't have guns.

and they won't keep the Kurds free.

Happy thoughts and wishful thinking will, of course.

[Torrocca]

Second amendment should serve its original purpose and the military reduced to a small cadre while national defense is handled by a citizen militia.

Citizen militia won't be a match for a professional army.

FYI the Taliban has a total or significant partial presence in 39% of Afghanistan's districts today despite having been at war with America since 2001.

[Ors Might]

Citizen militia won't be a match for a professional army.

FYI the Taliban has a total or significant partial presence in 39% of Afghanistan's districts today despite having been at war with America since 2001.

And we don’t even give a shit about collateral damage with those guys. Imagine how fucked the US government would be with an insurrection within its own borders.

[The Galactic Liberal Democracy]

I won’t rest until every American above the age of sixteen has access to a fully automated battleship!

What about the children? It’s important for everyone to be able to defend themselves! We should probably start small, like with submarines or something.

[Ors Might]

I won’t rest until every American above the age of sixteen has access to a fully automated battleship!

What about the children? It’s important for everyone to be able to defend themselves! We should probably start small, like with submarines or something.

How about tug boats with machine guns mounted on the front? Everybody gets to take the fight to the abominations of the deep!

[Borinsa]

I fully support anti-fascist militias being armed for the purpose of self-defense and deterrence.

For me it depends what this anti-fascist militia considers “fascist”
And I’d strongly prefer they weren’t all millennial edge lords.

I’d arm them if they truly hated actual fascists and the country actually had enough actual fascists to warrant it.

Even then it would be better for the government to take care of.

[Torrocca]

I won’t rest until every American above the age of sixteen has access to a fully automated battleship!

What about the children? It’s important for everyone to be able to defend themselves! We should probably start small, like with submarines or something.

Small isn't the American way. One intergalactic FTL-capable battlecruiser for everyone born to the red, white, and blue!

[Ors Might]

What about the children? It’s important for everyone to be able to defend themselves! We should probably start small, like with submarines or something.

Small isn't the American way. One intergalactic FTL-capable battlecruiser for everyone born to the red, white, and blue!

By the time we encounter the abominable xenos, we’ll be able to crush them underneath our lightsaber boots!

[Genivaria]

I actually think the 'militia' should be based off conscription to train in the use of firearms, basic tactics and used to evacuate civilizations and support the professional military.
Think of it as a 'community building exercise ' with assault rifles.

[Reverend Norv]

Second, there's the assumption on the left - especially overseas - that American gun owners are all NRA members who see firearms ownership in inflexible, insurrectionist terms.

k e k. I wish that NRA members were more like this and less like how you describe yourself, they might actually get something done if that were the case.

Then I suppose the post was not written for you.

[Hammer Britannia]

We should make guns illegal for a week just to show Americans how fucked it would be.