# Are you worried about violence if Harris wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, kamala-harris\ **Created:** [August 14, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716 "2024-08-14T20:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/121 "2024-08-18T08:37:42Z")
Also that he wasn’t genre savvy at all, since that’s the perfect straight line for the baddie to kill you and steal your gun. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/122 "2024-08-18T08:56:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If Edgar is a gun worshiper, you are calling farmers that. I will concede your other points. He also did the “From my cold dead hands!” bit, which goes a bit beyond a farmer just using guns as a tool. His terms were acceptable ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/123 "2024-08-18T17:54:01Z")
ANYWAY, the thread isn’t about the movie-metaphor, just that it illustrates my view of the relationship between MAGA and the Republicans. And back to the thread, the mass of stereotypes in the Edgar _character_ do represent a certain POV for the violence that the thread is about - LOTS of posturing, lots of threats, but the carry through? Probably not particularly effective for _most_, but there are more than enough to seize on the excuse to carry out violence with the fig-leaf of political protest, _especially_ if they think they won’t get caught or called out. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/124 "2024-08-20T21:48:45Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > to keep varmits and predators away from their crops and livestock (which I include among my extended family) Your extended family includes varmints and predators? Or crops and livestock? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/125 "2024-08-20T21:55:43Z")
Heh, fair enough. I have small scale farmers and ranchers among my extended family, although most of them are now elderly, and should probably NOT be challenging varmits and predators on their property. Come to think of it, I _could_ include my step-father in the varmit and predator category (he did not treat my mother, or his son, my half-brother well), and I know he’s armed. And he’s the sort that “does his own research” sort of smart-stupid person (he’s quite smart, but poorly educated, and easily falls for all the ploys) that gets sucked into supporting people like RFK Jr or Trump despite knowing they’re both idiots, because somehow the other side is always “worse” for some nebulous reason. Still, and back to the thread, I don’t consider him, or people like him to actively bring about violence, unless those who manipulate him and their ilk can create an image of some sort of direct, imminent harm to him and his kind. And that’s where I think the current MAGA crowd and RWNJ haven’t quite succeeded. Oh, they _try_ real hard with the non-stop “we will not be replaced” (aimed at immigrants / non-Christians / Jews depending on flavor) but I don’t think the majority of their audience feels _threatened_ on the gut level that encourages actual violence. Yet. Hopefully. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/126 "2024-08-20T23:13:39Z")
I’m a bit worried about violence at polling sites if/when it looks like Harris will win. I expect rumors to circulate that the election is being stolen and patriots need to do something to take back America. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/127 "2024-08-21T00:47:48Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I’m a bit worried about violence at polling sites if/when it looks like Harris will win. Noot actual violence- too cowardly. But the implied threat- with armed goons standing around, looking racist as fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/128 "2024-08-21T01:20:57Z")
I wish I had your confidence about the cowardice of all MAGAts. I could see attempts to disrupt vote counting that goes beyond what they feel is an acceptable time span. AZ, NV and MI have plenty of assholes with guns that I could see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/129 "2024-08-21T02:47:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Noot actual violence- too cowardly. But the implied threat- with armed goons standing around, looking racist as fuck. When you have the powder keg that is a bunch of armed goons standing around, looking racist as fuck then you’ve got the potential for violence. The MAGA world around brought violence to politics on January 6 and I have to allow for the possibility they might do it again. With any luck maybe they learned their lesson after seeing all their friends get convicted. But I don’t have any faith in Trump’s core followers are able to learn from their own mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/130 "2024-08-21T03:37:20Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > When you have the powder keg that is a bunch of armed goons standing around, looking racist as fuck then you’ve got the potential for violence. This. Not only are they provocative just being what they are, but they are exactly the sort of people likely to pick a fight, or just decide somebody “looks wrong” and attack them outright. As far as the idea that they are “too cowardly” to be violent that’s nonsense; right wing violence has been an ongoing issue for decades. Murders of doctors, of homosexuals, and religious minorities, police brutality (and the armed goons in this case might well _be_ the cops), domestic violence, terrorist bombings, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/131 "2024-08-21T03:51:22Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As far as the idea that they are “too cowardly” to be violent that’s nonsense; right wing violence has been an ongoing issue for decades And it doesn’t take many fanatics to mess things up. Imagine for a moment a line up at a polling station in a city. Hundreds of people waiting for hours. And then one person opens up with an AR-15, or even just a pistol. Chaos rules as people panic, and scatter. The site is shut down for hours by the police response. How many of those who were in line return in time to vote? ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/132 "2024-08-21T04:27:59Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > And it doesn’t take many fanatics to mess things up. Imagine for a moment a line up at a polling station in a city. Hundreds of people waiting for hours. And then one person opens up with an AR-15, or even just a pistol. > > Chaos rules as people panic, and scatter. The site is shut down for hours by the police response. How many of those who were in line return in time to vote? Just as likely, Gunslinger gets himself jumped. People are tired of this nonsense and they will not put up with it. We need to encourage people to stomp these vermin into the gutter and make them slink away. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/133 "2024-08-21T04:34:35Z")
No. No stomping necessary: nonviolence works if enough people are willing to stand up. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/134 "2024-08-21T04:47:43Z")
Not against people willing to just open fire on crowds or drive vehicles into then. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/135 "2024-08-21T05:06:01Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > We need to encourage people to stomp these vermin into the gutter If this is a call to violence against the misguided people who support Trump, I vociferously disagree. They are victims, not “vermin.” ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/136 "2024-08-21T06:43:28Z")
Piffle. They are traitors. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/137 "2024-08-21T11:17:40Z")
Political violence just results in the more violent side winning, which usually isn’t the _better_ side. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/138 "2024-08-21T17:23:10Z")
Depends. Is the MAGAt yelling slogans, waving signs, etc.? Ignore the idiot. Is the MAGAt aiming a firearm at voters and threatening to shoot them? Take him down. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/139 "2024-08-21T18:31:01Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Is the MAGAt aiming a firearm at voters and threatening to shoot them? Take him down. As a last resort, yes. But far better if the police are the ones to control violent protesters. They have the training (we hope), the weaponry, and it’s the duty they signed up for. Sure, we can imagine scenarios where the police can’t help - “What if there are no police around?!?!” “What if the police are MAGAts themselves?!?!?” But I’m with @Der_Trihs on this one. Let’s not escalate. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716/140 "2024-08-21T23:13:25Z")
This scenario had occurred to me. Even putting out a rumor that such a thing happened _somewhere_ would be enough to deter some folks from showing up to vote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-violence-if-harris-wins/1005716.md?page=8)