Forum Post: Should Progressives Consider Arming Themselves?

First, let’s get one thing straight -- I hate the NRA and the gun manufacturers, with their constant pressure to sell more and more firearms with little or no regard for who gets hurt or killed.

But the country is in a very dangerous place. There are frequent attacks by right-wing thugs, and in some places violent militias are forming. One result of this, as reported in a segment of a recent national news program, is that African Americans are buying a large numbers of weapons for self protection.

I don’t claim that individually owned guns will be a defense against organized militias. But, right-wing goons (like their Nazi brown shirt role models) are basically cowards. I think that if potential thugs know that they would be terrorizing people who own weapons and may fight back, some of them will be reluctant to join militias or gangs.

As for me, someone who had never fired a weapon, I bought a shotgun, which is amazingly easy to use. And I am happy I did.

Of course, some Progressives should never own a firearm. But, if the word gets out that large numbers of Progressives are arming themselves, it could be a restraining influence on some right-wing scum.

Do you agree that Progressives should consider arming themselves?