Arm the homeless

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I've heard advocates of guns and the Second Amendment say things like:

- guns are necessary for self-defense.
- an armed society is necessary as a defense against tyranny.

Tom Morello, lead guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, famously expressed an idea through artwork on his guitar: arm the homeless.

Gun advocates: what do you think of this idea?

There could be a government program that hands out either guns themselves or vouchers for guns to homeless people - or maybe the very poor in general - so that they can arm themselves.

Along with this could come courses for any safety or tactical training that you think is appropriate.

What do you think? On its face, it seems to tick all the boxes that Second Amendment afficionados say are important:

- who is in more need of self-defense than the homeless? There are plenty of stats to show that the homeless are especially likely to be victims of violent crime.

- if the goal is defense against tyranny, who better as the vanguard in that defense than the people who would be most vulnerable to a tyrannical government?

So you're on board with this idea, right?

 

[tytlyf]

Arm every non-criminal over the age of 16. Studies prove that more guns = safer communities.

 

[BSM1]

Again with the "free" stuff? Will you liberals ever be satisfied?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm fine with it. People deserve the right to protect themselves.

 

[Rival]

Uh, or maybe you could give them somewhere to live?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Again with the "free" stuff? Will you liberals ever be satisfied?

So if the program was run by a private organization using voluntary donations, you'd be okay with it?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Uh, or maybe you could give them somewhere to live?

Even better.

 

[Audie]

I am against it, for lo, as @promethius85 has
proven via dueling website, good guys with guns
can do nothing to protect themselves or others.

I do hope the word will get out so the army and
police can quit wasting public money on all those
dreadful guns.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I, for one, would not be in favor of such a practice. In my neck of the woods, there are many homeless opiate addicts that would do just about anything for their next fix, and it would be nothing for them walk into a local business and rob it at gunpoint for money to buy drugs.

I just had one of my restaurants robbed at gunpoint in such an event a week and a half ago.

 

[Audie]

So if the program was run by a private organization using voluntary donations, you'd be okay with it?

Has libitis rendered you insensible to the presence of
sarcasm other than your own?

 

[bobhikes]

I've heard advocates of guns and the Second Amendment say things like:

- guns are necessary for self-defense.
- an armed society is necessary as a defense against tyranny.

Tom Morello, lead guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, famously expressed an idea through artwork on his guitar: arm the homeless.

So you're on board with this idea, right?

In general the White Nationalist and Political right are against this policy. It was the Black panthers carrying guns in California (the most liberal state) that caused all the regulations today that we have. Start showing the homeless, legal immigrants or blacks carrying guns and more than likely you will start to get gun control.

 

[Stanyon]

Or they could just go to a local gunshop with required identification, fill out all the paperwork and if they pass the background check and have the money then there is no reason they shouldn't be able to.

The right to bear arms does not mean you get a free one.

 

[Stanyon]

In general the White Nationalist and Political right are against this policy. It was the Black panthers carrying guns in California (the most liberal state) that caused all the regulations today that we have. Start showing the homeless, legal immigrants or blacks carrying guns and more than likely you will start to get gun control.

You have to be joking or you are completely clueless about the diversity of gun owners.

 

[Audie]

In general the White Nationalist and Political right are against this policy. It was the Black panthers carrying guns in California (the most liberal state) that caused all the regulations today that we have. Start showing the homeless, legal immigrants or blacks carrying guns and more than likely you will start to get gun control.

Everyone left right and upside down recognizes the
idea as farcical. You political analysis is similarly
flawed.

 

[Audie]

You have to be joking or you are completely clueless about the diversity of gun owners.

Sounds more like a case of simple prejudice / bigotry,
which base and ignoble sentiments now find honour
amongst the leftists.

 

[tytlyf]

Again with the "free" stuff? Will you liberals ever be satisfied?

? I notice you're in favor of free stuff for corporations and elitists. Just not for the American people.

The elites have trained you well.

 

[Jollybear]

I've heard advocates of guns and the Second Amendment say things like:

- guns are necessary for self-defense.
- an armed society is necessary as a defense against tyranny.

Tom Morello, lead guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, famously expressed an idea through artwork on his guitar: arm the homeless.

Gun advocates: what do you think of this idea?

There could be a government program that hands out either guns themselves or vouchers for guns to homeless people - or maybe the very poor in general - so that they can arm themselves.

Along with this could come courses for any safety or tactical training that you think is appropriate.

What do you think? On its face, it seems to tick all the boxes that Second Amendment afficionados say are important:

- who is in more need of self-defense than the homeless? There are plenty of stats to show that the homeless are especially likely to be victims of violent crime.

- if the goal is defense against tyranny, who better as the vanguard in that defense than the people who would be most vulnerable to a tyrannical government?

So you're on board with this idea, right?

Depends on what kind of homeless. Someone like rambo, YES.

 

[Revoltingest]

Again with the "free" stuff? Will you liberals ever be satisfied?

Only when Ameristan becomes a worker's paradise like N Korea.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Or they could just go to a local gunshop with required identification, fill out all the paperwork and if they pass the background check and have the money then there is no reason they shouldn't be able to.

... if they have the money, as you say.

There are programs to help destitute people buy food, there are programs to get them free job training, there are even charities that will loan out suits for job interviews. If guns provide all the social and personal benefits you describe, why shouldn't there be similar programs to get the homeless armed along with getting the fed, trained, and employed?

The right to bear arms does not mean you get a free one.

It doesn't preclude it, though.

And the Constitution (Section 1, Article 8) does say that Congress has the power "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia." I've heard Second Amendment advocates argue that the term "the militia" in the Constitution refers to the entire citizenry of the United States. Do you agree with this interpretation?

 

[Terry Sampson]

Start showing the homeless, legal immigrants or blacks carrying guns and more than likely you will start to get gun control.

That thought hadn't occurred to me; however, I've long wondered what might be the consequence of us Democratic Socialist "enemy of the people" snowflakes doing a180 degree turn on gun ownership ... and not joining NRA.