I too wish people also cared as much about the 1st amendment, but sadly I think the tide is turning on that. Too many on both the right and left seem okay with censorship and harassment.
Things like this is just another way of trying to drive a wedge.
With the ridiculous leeway American law enforcement has when it comes to harming people ("qualified immunity"), I don't think that second amendment will be relevant until there's an outright civil war happening. And when it comes to that, one or both sides have access to predator drones and fighter jets.
The people claiming that having guns won't save you against the weight of the army are only partly correct. Having a few guns won't save me personally. I would certainly be killed on my own. But no government can kill everyone, either as a practical matter, or simply because you still need folks to produce the food. When everybody is armed, the government simply cannot oppress them to the same degree.
Police can kill you if they feel fear or pretend to feel fear. And having a gun was already ruled valid legal reasom for police to kill people.
If protesters carried guns, ICE could legally murder them. Not just J.D.Vance legaly, but legaly per how courts interpret such situations.
But I think you are underestimating the effect it will have on individual federal agents, who might decide the pay isn't good enough anymore.
These scenes are also put on for the benefit of the politicians watching.
They already sorted it out - in open carry states. In the above situation, the court in open carry state sides with cops.
It is really simple. Sentencing cop for on duty murder is extraordinary hard even in clear cut cases. Guns presence means a cop can say he was afraid. And afraid cop is entitled to kill.
> But I think you are underestimating the effect it will have on individual federal agents, who might decide the pay isn't good enough anymore.
You are over estimating it. They would just shoot and feel good about it.
Even if they left, the state would send better trained troop the next time.
The political roles being different is key factor - ICE wants to kill and this administration wants them to kill. It makes them feel manly.
Frankly, the theory that armed forces would step back is absurd. They are cowards, but they are not afraid to kill. They are so afraid of everything that they are more likely to kill
And other side are people with moral limits. People who are not afraid and are showimg courage every day, but not murderers. And ICE knows that.
No one in ICE fears life ... they fear being emasculated.