and now, the LW militias...

[Flatpointhigh]

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/lem ... on-9192965

Since you don't every day see groups of left-wingers totin' semi-automatic rifles, strolling down the sidewalk, I figured I would follow them and record this odd phenomenon via Facebook Live.

Earlier, the spokeswoman told me that someone with the Brown Berets might talk with me, but she later came up as I was recording the group with my iPhone, and told me the Brown Berets were keeping it zipped as well.

She also asked me to stop filming. And I told her I wasn't going to do that, because we were on public property.

[Chilidog]

They look just as ridiculous as the RW gun Fondlers

[Addie]

[Fortinbras]

Of course, add more zanies with loaded guns. What could possibly go wrong?

[RoadScholar]

Zanies? Look at the fingers at rest off the triggers. There's no guns propped up muzzle-down like the Malheur Pootriots did. These people are showing better firearms form than the RW mooks ever did.

And good on them. I'm sick of the RW dicks saying "We've got all the guns!" as a method of intimidating Progressives. Good on these folks for saying "We aren't afraid of you; we're not backing down."

[DejaMoo]

Zanies? Look at the fingers at rest off the triggers. There's no guns propped up muzzle-down like the Malheur Pootriots did. These people are showing better firearms form than the RW mooks ever did.

And good on them. I'm sick of the RW dicks saying "We've got all the guns!" as a method of intimidating Progressives. Good on these folks for saying "We aren't afraid of you; we're not backing down."

Egg-zackly. The reason the right wingers are so gun-ho is because they labor under the delusion that they're the only ones with the guns (and the cojones to carry them). Best way to get them upset about the easy access to guns is to show them the very people they're paranoid about carrying them.

[SueDB]

The best way to carry a gun is concealed. Anything else is so gauche . ....Unless you are out in the woods hunting an animal to kill AND eat.

[ArthurWankspittle]

The best way to carry a gun is concealed. Anything else is so gauche .

Yebbut if I put my AK47 down the front of my pants people ask questions.

Seriously, I recall an article from a few months back somewhere saying more Democrats had started buying guns/going to shooting ranges.

[PatGund]

And good on them. I'm sick of the RW dicks saying "We've got all the guns!" as a method of intimidating Progressives. Good on these folks for saying "We aren't afraid of you; we're not backing down."

Which reminds me, I have a firearms safety refresher class tonight.

[Fortinbras]

The NRA is now facing the prospect of a dip in gun sales - after all, with Trump and the Republicans in power, no chance of any gun control legislation and Trump has already rolled back the Obama regulation against mental cases having firepower - but the prospect of leftists (i.e., people with high school diplomas or better) having weapons is going to be a new NRA selling point.

[NotaPerson]

I fail to see anything positive or even mildly amusing in this. I can't believe it does anything to persuade the public to vote for candidates on the left in future elections.

I am not especially anti-gun. If you want a rifle so you can hunt deer, go for it (just leave the bunnies alone, okay?). If you somehow feel safer with a gun in your house, that's fine, I'm not going to argue with you. But if you're going to stand in a public area brandishing your gun and scowling at people while trying to look like a badass, well then I hope that someday soon you swallow that barrel and blow your brains out. I don't care what your politics are, America (and the world) would be a far better place without you.

Sorry if this sounds harsh. Of course I would never literally want anyone to commit suicide. But I am really sick of the gun fetishization in our country. The fact that some kids on the left are now doing it doesn't make it cool.

[RoadScholar]

Well, you're entitled to your fucked-up, ugly-minded opinion.

[TollandRCR]

...
Sorry if this sounds harsh. Of course I would never literally want anyone to commit suicide. But I am really sick of the gun fetishization in our country. The fact that some kids on the left are now doing it doesn't make it cool.

Nothing good can come of arming the left.

[SueDB]

Much of the new legal "gun rush" is coming from the minority community...which is quite understandable to me.

Also the chances of being killed by a gun soar when there is a loaded gun in the home (or gun and accessible ammo).

You have more chances of being killed by someone's armed toddler than any terrorist. Outlaw toddlers? Ban Billy the Kid?

[RoadScholar]

It's a reasonable response when RWNJs are on tape saying they "can't wait for the liberal genocide." They would be fine with exterminating every single liberal, every gay person, every person of color, every Jew... wait, why does this sound so familiar?

Besides, you forget what the real character of a militia is. It's defensive. Those folks (and I) are saying: if you try to harm us, we will be ready to defend ourselves. They're not threatening anybody. They are showing strength, preparedness.

I'm glad you're OK with living defenseless beside people who hated liberals before Trump, and now are emboldened to act out. I'm not. I plan to be ready to defend my family and community, and I would defend you all too should the need arise. DEFEND. Not attack.

[boots]

It had to happen.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

It reminds me of the Black Panthers in California who established armed patrols in Oakland who followed police cars around to ensure black people were not being abused. They took advantage of California law that permitted open carry of rifles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party

Oakland patrols of police

The initial tactic of the party utilized contemporary open-carry gun laws to protect Party members when policing the police. This act was done in order to record incidents of police brutality by distantly following police cars around neighborhoods.[44] When confronted by a police officer, Party members cited laws proving they have done nothing wrong and threatened to take to court any officer that violated their constitutional rights.[45] Between the end of 1966 to the start of 1967, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense's armed police patrols in Oakland black communities attracted a small handful of members.[46] Numbers grew slightly starting in February 1967, when the party provided an armed escort at the San Francisco airport for Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's widow and keynote speaker for a conference held in his honor.[47]

The inspiration came from this short book, Negroes with Guns. The author describes armed confrontations with racists including racist police.

https://libcom.org/files/Robert%20Frank ... 20guns.pdf

[SueDB]

There shouldn't be too much of a bump though, liberals have already owned gunz for generations.

[RoadScholar]

There shouldn't be too much of a bump though, liberals have already owned gunz for generations.

Indeed. But the point is: RWNJs have been telling each other that Liberals are a bunch of unarmed pussies for quite some time. I say it's a good thing to put it into their thick noggins that maybe that's not so.

You think I exaggerate? I've seen 'prepper' forums where folks have said if push comes to shove they can always just take their Liberal neighbors' food, water and fuel because they will be sitting ducks when the shit goes down.

Somebody needs to stand up to them.

I have no problem with those who choose not to arm themselves. Why should you have any problem with those of us who will?

[boots]

The best way to carry a gun is concealed. Anything else is so gauche .

Yebbut if I put my AK47 down the front of my pants people ask questions.

yes, including your doctor, eventually!

[listeme]

The left has been more armed than people think, including some of the left. Maybe the farther you get from universities and suburbs, the more you understand that.

It's rarer for the left to fetishize guns, maybe Although I look at hollywood and that's not exactly a hotbed of RWNJs.

There have been people on this board all along, including Verbie and me, who have pushed back against the idea that guns are for conservatives.

I kinda think these guys are a little goofy (in the pic), but I've always wanted to sport a kerchief.

[maydijo]

The bleeding heart Commie Kumbaya Aussie in me just finds it very sad that anyone feels the need to arm themselves against their fellow citizens.

[NotaPerson]

There shouldn't be too much of a bump though, liberals have already owned gunz for generations.

Indeed. But the point is: RWNJs have been telling each other that Liberals are a bunch of unarmed pussies for quite some time. I say it's a good thing to put it into their thick noggins that maybe that's not so.

You think I exaggerate? I've seen 'prepper' forums where folks have said if push comes to shove they can always just take their Liberal neighbors' food, water and fuel because they will be sitting ducks when the shit goes down.

Somebody needs to stand up to them.

I have no problem with those who choose not to arm themselves. Why should you have any problem with those of us who will?

I thought I was clear in my post that I don't have a problem, generally speaking, with gun ownership. Including...or perhaps especially for...reasons of personal safety.

But I don't believe the lefty kids in that photo were holding guns for reasons of personal safety. People concerned about their personal safety do not behave in a provocative manner designed to draw attention to themselves. And they don't pose for photos that they know will get spread around the internet. Photos in which they seem to be thinking "Hey look at me! And look at my gun! I'm such a badass!!"

As far as the shit hitting the fan someday, and the possibility that my right-wing neighbors might come steal my food....well, count me among the millions who are pretty confident that the shit hitting the fan won't be as bad as the RWNJs say it will be. Dollar collapse, anyway?

Oh shit...as I was typing that last paragraph it occurred to me that those invading neighbors might think my house rabbit would make for some fine eating. Okay, now you have me totally rethinking my view of the world.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

While I find the whole gun fetish disturbing, I wonder what the reaction of poots would be if their public demonstrations by armed gangs were met by freaky looking people carrying the same weaponry.

In particular, what would have happened if the people in the mosques that John Ritzhemer molested had produced weapons. Johnny would have turned tail and run wimpering to law enforcement.

[ZekeB]

You can tell they're LW because there's a person of colour right up front.