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Comment by mmm_grayons | Hacker News Reader

> I'm not foolish enough to believe that people with guns could win a civil war in the day of modern weapons

I know HN hates opinions like this, but I'm a very staunch 2a supporter. My position is that citizens should have so-called "weapons of war", the same automatic weapons that the military carries with tons of ammunition. Joe six-pack should be able to walk to his local gun store and buy an M60 if he so pleases. In such a case, there's a very good chance that civilians could win a civil war.

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Do you also believe Joe six-pack should be in any way trained to be able to use that M60? Should be held to some standards, be they ethical or professional? Maybe require a license? Or does the 2A mean all bets are off?

I'll be honest - after the last few months I don't know if I trust an armed American populace any more than an armed government. Simply putting guns into the hands of vigilantes doesn't necessarily lead to a freer state. I certainly don't want idiots like that couple in St. Louis to have even more firepower.

Sure, but I don't particularly trust the gov't to enforce those standards. FWIW I think an idiot is much more likely to do something stupid with a handgun than with a twenty pound belt-fed.

I see nothing principally wrong with what the couple in St. Louis did (i.e. defending one's property), though the wife was an absolute dumbass to point her handgun at the crowd. Anyone competent knows not to do that without serious intent to fire.

I understand your position: moron with automatic is possibly more dangerous than moron with semi-auto. But I think there are risks and downsides to living in a free society, and that's one.

Given that there's a relevant situation, how do you feel about BLM doing peaceful protests, rather than grabbing some guns and killing the cops/politicians that defend them?

I think a civil war over the murder of a few people is not yet warranted. We've still gpt the ballot and jury boxes before we get there. And it is worth noting that not all protests have been peaceful, though it only takes a few bad actors to classify one as violent. I do think that a heavily-armed populace could reduce the rates of police brutality.

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