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Minority Rights

Another safeguard against tyranny would be to allow minority groups to wear a different uniform in the army. The uniform alerts others as to whose side they're on. It's not legalising defection but merely a precaution. In fact seperate uniforms are probably legal under free speech.

Wait, what on earth are you talking about? how would different uniforms do that?
 
Debaters often cite the black market. But search warrants could help hinder the black market. Besides, a lot of the black market consists of stolen guns that were once legally held.

There's gunrunning but that can be intercepted by the military.

Because this is working so well with drugs?
 
Safeguard against tyranny? Unfortunately gun rights advocates are laboring under the delusion that Joe Nobody will one day spring from his lazy boy in a shower of empty beer cans and grab his gun to save us all from the tyranny of a government that could kill any one of us from anywhere in the world. This isn’t the 18th century. There is no defense against such a government.
 
Hi. In terms of the uniform I suppose in any war what determines who shoots at who is the uniform that they're wearing. Unless you're a spy, soldiers will wear their own side's uniform to avoid friendly fire. I'm certainly not saying it's a cure-all but perhaps it might make defection a bit easier if needed.
 
In terms of the drugs analogy I think the problem is very different. It's a lot harder to make guns. Ghost guns and improvised homemade guns are quite rare and, I imagine, very difficult to make. I don't think impure gunpowder works compared to the extent of impure illegal drugs.
 
Over here when assessing your societies inbult predjudicies its simply considered true :wink:

Your country created all these prejudices.
 
Hi my name is Michael McMahon. A common argument against gun control is the threat of a tyrannical government. But is there any other defensive countermeasure?

The problem with having freely available guns without any background check is that armed civilians cannot protect themselves against snipers. With any gun such as a handgun or a shotgun it's possible to ambush a person and attack from behind or shoot from a concealed position. Unless one intends to spend the day darting to cover around every corner with a binoculars I fail to see how they can defend themselves. We literally don't have eyes on the back of our heads to guard against any sneaky assassin.

I was thinking one way to defend against a murderous government would be to use a military version of proportional representation. So, if a parliamentary party has 30% of the vote they'd have complete 30% control of the military. If another party has 60% of the vote they'd then be granted 60% command of the military with their own autonomous military bases and units. And so on. This would give minorities a better organisational and logistical capacity to deter or defect and thwart a tyranny.

Obviously hate speech laws can be used to prevent any violent and extremist candidate or group from running for office to prevent them gaining military representation.

What would you think of this idea?

giphy.gif
 
We have to make the penalties for committing suicide, more severe, in order to cut down on those numbers








:roll:
Isn't it against the law to commit suicide?
 
Another problem is how armed civilians could withstand indirect fire from artillery and aerial bombardments without huge casualties if they were taking on a tyranny.
 
flogger I don't know what your problem is but we have enough as it is. Now across The Big Water that may be considered funny
here it's considered rude.

Not just rude, but stupid and uninformed.
 
Hi again.

One problem with using guns against opportunistic crimes is that some criminals are very psychopathic. So the criminal won't take any chances and opt to shoot first. This could turn robberies into armed robberies. Of course the other problem is that of proportionality in shooting at unarmed criminals.

In terms of tyranny I suppose no one can tell how the future will unfold in different countries.

More likely, if the criminal has reason to believe you can take care of yourself, he will search for a softer target. If he doesn't, he may not get the chance to shoot first.

IMO any robbery of person is an armed robbery. Armed does not necessarily mean carrying a firearm. It means capable of inflicting bodily harm. I would act accordingly.
 
In terms of the drugs analogy I think the problem is very different. It's a lot harder to make guns. Ghost guns and improvised homemade guns are quite rare and, I imagine, very difficult to make. I don't think impure gunpowder works compared to the extent of impure illegal drugs.

The U.S. is not the only country with permissive gun laws. Gun manufacturing companies could simply move to another country and this would create a huge black market in the U.S. and smuggling opportunities would skyrocket. Not to mention the huge difference in how those who would be enforcing the law view gun ownership vs. drug use. Gun ownership would be overlooked in many cases, and the consequences would likely be less severe in cases where they are enforced.
 
Another problem is how armed civilians could withstand indirect fire from artillery and aerial bombardments without huge casualties if they were taking on a tyranny.

Where would such a government find American servicemen who are willing to fire artillery and perform aerial bombardments against American civilians on American soil?
 
Isn't it against the law to commit suicide?

It is a capital sentence in some jurisdictions, i you are successful :mrgreen:
 
Where would such a government find American servicemen who are willing to fire artillery and perform aerial bombardments against American civilians on American soil?

Where did the Federal government find agents who were willing to fire upon and kill the extremist religious lawbreakers (who were nonetheless civilians) at the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas? If they are told that the people being shot upon are un-American extremist traitors, and that the civilians aiding them are aiding and abetting extremist traitors, I imagine they could be convinced to shoot them.
 
Hi Jimbo. I agree that self-defence is very important. But I remember reading Sam Harris once and he commented how there's no modern equivalent to a shield like there was against close-combat weapons. Ballistic body armour is only partially effective at best. I suppose it's a bit like the conversation in nuclear weapons about first-strike capability concerning the ability to defend from an ambush. If body armour was lightweight and completely effective you might have some chance but unfortunately that isn't the case.
 
Where did the Federal government find agents who were willing to fire upon and kill the extremist religious lawbreakers (who were nonetheless civilians) at the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas? If they are told that the people being shot upon are un-American extremist traitors, and that the civilians aiding them are aiding and abetting extremist traitors, I imagine they could be convinced to shoot them.

Isolated instances of law enforcement are different from a tyrannical takeover of the country by a non democratic government. I could be wrong, but my gut tells me that the vast majority of American servicemen don't sign up to enforce laws that eliminate democracy in America.
 
Isolated instances of law enforcement are different from a tyrannical takeover of the country by a non democratic government. I could be wrong, but my gut tells me that the vast majority of American servicemen don't sign up to enforce laws that eliminate democracy in America.

I do not imagine any servicemen or women sign up to their armed forces with the specific intent of murdering their fellow countrymen. Even in countries ruled over by tyrannical regimes.
 
I do not imagine any servicemen or women sign up to their armed forces with the specific intent of murdering their fellow countrymen. Even in countries ruled over by tyrannical regimes.

Maybe not. I like to think American service members and potential service members are exceptional in this regard thanks to the remarkable freedoms they were raised under. I could be wrong. I hope you're wrong.
 
In regards to enforcement of any gun laws there would obviously need to be a democratic mandate in order to avoid widespread non-compliance. Yes, a few other countries do have permissive gun laws but all one would need to do is to selectively monitor and check trade and imports from such places. We'll have to ensure there's no rifles snuck in with Swiss cheese!
 
Where did the Federal government find agents who were willing to fire upon and kill the extremist religious lawbreakers (who were nonetheless civilians) at the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas? If they are told that the people being shot upon are un-American extremist traitors, and that the civilians aiding them are aiding and abetting extremist traitors, I imagine they could be convinced to shoot them.

Call Janet Reno.
 
I agree with the right of proportionate self defence. But with legalised guns, technically any sudden movements at all within a 1 mile radius could be a potential sniper. One could easily shoot anyone within this area and then legally claim they were a potential threat or sniper. It will inevitably lead to paranoia. This shows the absurdity of the mass legalisation of guns without background checks.
 
Hi my name is Michael McMahon. A common argument against gun control is the threat of a tyrannical government. But is there any other defensive countermeasure?

The problem with having freely available guns without any background check is that armed civilians cannot protect themselves against snipers. With any gun such as a handgun or a shotgun it's possible to ambush a person and attack from behind or shoot from a concealed position. Unless one intends to spend the day darting to cover around every corner with a binoculars I fail to see how they can defend themselves. We literally don't have eyes on the back of our heads to guard against any sneaky assassin.

I was thinking one way to defend against a murderous government would be to use a military version of proportional representation. So, if a parliamentary party has 30% of the vote they'd have complete 30% control of the military. If another party has 60% of the vote they'd then be granted 60% command of the military with their own autonomous military bases and units. And so on. This would give minorities a better organisational and logistical capacity to deter or defect and thwart a tyranny.

Obviously hate speech laws can be used to prevent any violent and extremist candidate or group from running for office to prevent them gaining military representation.

What would you think of this idea?

Bwahahahaha! :lamo
 
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