The entire purpose of terrorism is to use violence or the threat of violence as a weapon to drive fear into a change in political behavior. These are 100% terrorists. They are not conceal and carry citizens who just so happen to be carrying a weapon for protection. They are purposefully displaying a threat of violence in order to enact a fear driven political change. That is terrorism 101. You don't always have to be the one to pull the trigger to be a terrorist. It's the act of terrorism that makes you a terrorist.
Here’s How The Nation Responded When A Black Militia Group Occupied A Government Building Nearly 50 years ago, a group of armed Black Panthers entered the California state Capitol to protest a gun control bill. Don Mulford, a GOP assemblyman who represented Oakland, responded to the Black Panther police patrols in 1967 with a bill to strip Californians of the right to openly carry firearms. Nobody tried to stop the 30 Black Panthers — 24 men and six women, carrying rifles, shotguns and revolvers — as they walked through the doors of the state Capitol building on May 2 of that year. This was decades before Sept. 11 or the Oklahoma City bombing, and the protesters were, after all, legally allowed to have their weapons. They entered with their guns pointed at the ceiling. Behind them followed a horde of journalists they’d called to document the protest. As the rest of the group waited nearby, six Panthers entered the assembly chamber, where they found lawmakers mid-session. Some legislators reportedly saw the protesters and took cover under desks. It was the last straw: Police finally ordered the protesters to leave the premises. The group maintained they were within their rights to be in the Capitol with their guns, but eventually they exited peacefully. Outside, Seale delivered the Black Panther executive mandate before a crush of reporters. This section of remarks, reprinted in Hugh Pearson’s The Shadow of the Panther, still resonates today: “Black people have begged, prayed, petitioned, demonstrated, and everything else to get the racist power structure of America to right the wrongs which have historically been perpetuated against black people. All of these efforts have been answered by more repression, deceit and hypocrisy. As the aggression of the racist American government escalates in Vietnam, the police agencies of America escalate the oppression of black people throughout the ghettoes of America. Vicious police dogs, cattle prods, and increased patrols have become familiar sights in black communities. City Hall turns a deaf ear to the pleas of black people for relief from this increasing terror.” Shortly after Seale finished, police arrested the group on felony charges of conspiracy to disrupt a legislative session. Seale accused them of manufacturing “trumped up charges,” but the protesters would later plead guilty to lesser misdemeanors. Mulford’s legislation, which became known as the “Panthers Bill,” passed with the support of the National Rifle Association, which apparently believed that the whole “good guy with a gun” thing didn’t apply to black people. California Gov. Ronald Reagan (R), who would later campaign for president as a steadfast defender of the Second Amendment, signed the bill into law.
Well, that group did... but (see below). btw, the guy in the far left of the picture... armed and having all his features covered. Law enforcement must really like heavily armed people with their identifiable features disguised... And the police officers below must also like armed yahoos screaming and sputtering right in their face. (further risking virus contamination).
I was wondering so I looked it up: Clearly their goal was to disrupt the session. You would think that would make brandishing weapons unlawful in this instance. I know the gun nuts would go crazy, but in my opinion the police should have disarmed them with whatever means necessary.
Just what I thought of. Heard plenty of conservatives say the Black Panthers were terrorists for monitoring voting stations while armed (sometimes not armed but just dressed militantly). Now I'm an outlier because I'd like to get rid of the second amendment entirely, but I'd at least like to see some consistency. If one thinks this is okay, and the occupation of the Oregon wildlife center was okay, tell me the Black Panthers were also okay.
The big instigator was when the feds let the Bundys goons occupy that wildlife reserve in Oregon and get away with it. Since then, theyve decided they can do whatever they want as long as they act tough. Feds should have arrested them all and shot dead any who tried to resist. If all those assholes were in jail or the ground, it would have been bad PR, but this **** wouldn't be happening.
If someone dropped a firecracker in this scene what happens? If the Cops started arresting people. . what happens? Do Blue Lives matter then? Rocket River