Virus thread, the political one.

[Too Tall]

According to law enforcement intel, in CA, an American flag on flagpole represents gun ownership.

Tell me about the "Armed Response" signs I've seen on fenced CA yards.

[BBB]

Everyone seems to think these are separate events. How would one party take over the government while leaving guns in the hands of its citizens? Or take guns without taking over the government. These are basically the same thing. You might do one before the other, but eventually you are going to have to do both to stay in power.

Gun people sure make it easy to find them too. Not smart. If you really think someone is going to come and take away your guns, why make it so easy for them to find you. For starters, don't friggin' join the NRA.

Well, the response to various events this year has turned the scales upside down. When the Government has acted in a punitive manner (plain clothes government agents nabbing people off the street as a response to BLM protests), the gun nuts, rather than decrying the tyranny of the Government, have in fact sided with the Government. Thus the armed militia are marching in tune with the Government. This, as I understand, is not exactly what the right to bear arms was designed to achieve and the gate to authoritarianism is ever so slightly ajar because of this.

[j44ke]

Well, the response to various events this year has turned the scales upside down. When the Government has acted in a punitive manner (plain clothes government agents nabbing people off the street as a response to BLM protests), the gun nuts, rather than decrying the tyranny of the Government, have in fact sided with the Government. Thus the armed militia are marching in tune with the Government. This, as I understand, is not exactly what the right to bear arms was designed to achieve and the gate to authoritarianism is ever so slightly ajar because of this.

I think those are the weekend warriors. The deep end militias lean towards ideology that is a bit more fluid than that. Fluid or confused, or at least not beholden to rules that say manifestos should avoid diametric oppositional concepts. They end up sounding more like the anarchists than the anarchists do. Some are Trump-cult followers without being government supporters while others are fantasists who want to burn down everything. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/u...-michigan.html

[rydesteel]

According to law enforcement intel, in CA, an American flag on flagpole represents gun ownership.

Guess this gun owner is flying incognito then. ;>)

[rydesteel]

NPR had an interview with Mike Giglio who covered the Oath Keepers, and it was informative, interesting, and absolutely terrifying. For anyone who doesn't think it's possible that civil war could happen here give it a listen. Look at pictures of Syria before and after their ongoing Civil War. Our Country is on a path it has never faced before and the coming years will shape our Nation forever. The Revolution will Not be Televised.
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/92864...litia-movement

[ides1056]

The takeaway from that interview for me was that anyone who had seen combat wasn't down with the program and left the group.

The ones who talk about it aren't the ones to worry about.

Talk is cheap.

And the US is not Syria.

[Chik]

There may have been a time when Syrians thought, "Syria is not Lebanon."

NB, this is not at all a comment specifically about the US.

[beeatnik]

Guess this gun owner is flying incognito then. ;>)

You stay in Cali?

[rydesteel]

I'm in the Corn Belt. Grew up hunting and learned shoot at an early age.

[beeatnik]

Tell me about the "Armed Response" signs I've seen on fenced CA yards.

I should have been more clear. The flags are flown on free standing poles, usually in the yard. A tacit warning to urban and suburban blue state LEO's to tread lightly. And a wink wink to other 2nd Amendment Types.

[Too Tall]

I should have been more clear. The flags are flown on free standing poles, usually in the yard. A tacit warning to urban and suburban blue state LEO's to tread lightly. And a wink wink to other 2nd Amendment Types.

Got it. The vernacular becomes further from my grasp with each grey fukin' hair. I swear.

[jimcav]

I should have been more clear. The flags are flown on free standing poles, usually in the yard. A tacit warning to urban and suburban blue state LEO's to tread lightly. And a wink wink to other 2nd Amendment Types.

are they at least properly illuminated if the flag is up at night? even though that's already a lazy respect for our colors, at least they can properly honor the symbol of the system that grants them the right(s ) they so pointedly, specifically, cherish

[Chik]

I understand that many are delighted with the US presidential election outcome, but I hope that all the celebrations that are happening don't turn out to be super-spreader events.

[vertical_doug]

I understand that many are delighted with the US presidential election outcome, but I hope that all the celebrations that are happening don't turn out to be super-spreader events.

Chik,

That ship has sailed. We have crowds at college football. Just check out the ND students storming the field post Clemson game. Fortunately, most are wearing masks.

D

[ides1056]

Looks like America is one big super-spreader event at this point. Looks like hunkering down for the winter is a good idea.

[72gmc]

Chik,

That ship has sailed. We have crowds at college football. Just check out the ND students storming the field post Clemson game. Fortunately, most are wearing masks.

D

I realize Clemson was ranked #1 , but they were missing arguably the best skill player in the country due to Covid. And then the students storm the field anyway ... the winner of that game before, during, and after was Covid.

[echappist]

I realize Clemson was ranked #1 , but they were missing arguably the best skill player in the country due to Covid. And then the students storm the field anyway ... the winner of that game before, during, and after was Covid.

The students only had to get their cues from the president of Notre Dame, and they still managed to be more responsible by wearing masks, though that's a low bar to clear.

Also, Germany had fans back in stadia back in September, something like 1/10 to 1/8 of the capacity. Even that felt a bit risky. The stands at ND were pretty jammed.

[snotrockets]

I think single issue voters are just looking for an excuse to vote for someone without having to admit they actually support the full platform.

My gut feel looking at exit surveys (which show many R voters are pro women rights, gun control, nationalized health care, etc. etc.) is that people don't vote based on policy. They vote based on affiliation, which is the most single-issue issue you can find: am I a Republican? Not as "do I subscribe to the ideology of Rs", but "do I label myself such". I've seen this a few times outside the US, no need to think it'd be different here.

[Bob Ross]

Just overheard this line from Bill Maher while channel-surfing:

"Stop saying you can't believe COVID didn't kill Donald Trump; it may have."

[rwsaunders]

According to law enforcement intel, in CA, an American flag on flagpole represents gun ownership.

Holy crap...I have an Amercian flag on a pole my porch column, my mailbox and a decal on the rear window of my car, along with 5 college decals from the kids. No gun here, but I did have a Donald Trump is a Jagoff (Pittsburgh humor) sign posted until it was stolen.