# So if Trump wins- do you arm yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 1, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591 "2024-07-01T18:30:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/21 "2024-07-02T03:15:39Z")
I think this thread is absurd, but I went trap shooting with a friend for the 1st time several years ago, “4 stand” (I think that’s what it was called) and regular trap shooting. I beat everyone else! It was tons of fun. I have no guns and I don’t want to shoot people. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/22 "2024-07-02T03:16:54Z")
I will neither confirm nor deny that I possess an Oxygen destroyer. I lost my Oxygen destroyer in a tragic boating accident. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/23 "2024-07-02T03:19:55Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > I have no guns and I don’t want to shoot people. This. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/24 "2024-07-02T12:25:21Z")
Prior to the 2016 election some friendly neighborhood MAGA fucksticks went around a subdivision in a nearby city and spray-painted blue dots on the street in front of homes that had Hilary signs posted in their front yards. Nothing came of that, of course, because as mentioned these people are a bunch of gutless morons, but it did give me pause. I dont put up any political signs or hang any flag other that our American flag on occasion, so no one would know my politics by outward appearance. And as mentioned I am not part of a threatened class (e.g. I don’t need to worry about interacting with police). I have a couple of inherited firearms but no ammo for them and they haven’t been fired in decades, so are useless for self defense. Anyway, no, I probably wont arm myself unless the SDMB is shut down by a Trump administration for disloyalty and our identities are somehow compromised. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/25 "2024-07-02T12:34:07Z")
I have a couple of BB guns and you can be sure I’m ready to pump those up to ten times! Oh man, the bruises I’ll cause! It might even break the skin! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/26 "2024-07-02T12:49:15Z")
What I wonder is if Trump wins, will we start seeing anti-Trump militias start popping up. An individual with firearms obviously won’t be able to do much against groups like the Proud Boys, but you may start seeing people group themselves together to fight back and/or rebel. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/27 "2024-07-02T14:45:08Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > I have no guns and I don’t want to shoot people. I don’t want to shoot people either, but there is a loaded shotgun under my side of the bed. A few years ago I used it to shoot a rabid fox that was hanging out in our yard. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/28 "2024-07-02T16:16:00Z")
While the psychological urge for self-defense is understandable as a looming threat grows, @Der_Trihs’s point remains crucial: “Guns are much more likely to kill me or someone else by accident than protect me from Trump or anyone else.” In the fight-or-flight equation, fleeing to a progressive stronghold or a place better suited for you and your family is often the wiser choice. If you do choose to fight, remember that the most powerful weapons are the ballot box and grassroots organizing. These unsexy democratic tools, not guns, are our best hope for meaningful change and protection. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/29 "2024-07-02T16:32:51Z")
Do you have any sources that back you up about that famous study being flawed? [29% of Americans have experienced depression](https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx#:~:text=In%202023%2C%2029.0%25%20of%20Americans,Health%20and%20Well%2DBeing%20Index.), that’s nearly 1/3 of the population. Many of them say they wouldn’t trust themselves around a gun. With such vast numbers of depressed people and such relatively low violent crime numbers, it shocks me to hear that famous study was flawed! ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/30 "2024-07-02T16:57:22Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If we end up with groups of proud boyz killing people routinely while cops look the other way, then hell yes I’ll be armed This, I already own guns, and I am planning to purchase a couple more. I’m not afraid of the police, even though I do think that here in Idaho they will be more gestapo like than before, I’m afraid of the guy living across the street and my next door neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/31 "2024-07-02T20:11:10Z")
> [@Gozu](#): > > In the fight-or-flight equation, fleeing to a progressive stronghold or a place better suited for you and your family is often the wiser choice. If you do choose to fight, remember that the most powerful weapons are the ballot box and grassroots organizing. These unsexy democratic tools, not guns, are our best hope for meaningful change and protection. Well if the rule of law goes down the toilet, and organizing and ballots mean about as much as they do in Turkmenistan, there should be some fallback. And those strongholds will only be as strong as they have armed defenders, so someone’s got to step up. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/32 "2024-07-02T20:11:41Z")
> [@Gozu](#): > > Do you have any sources that back you up about that famous study being flawed? > > [29% of Americans have experienced depression](https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx#:~:text=In%202023%2C%2029.0%25%20of%20Americans,Health%20and%20Well%2DBeing%20Index.), that’s nearly 1/3 of the population. I am not gonna turn this into a gun control debate. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/33 "2024-07-02T20:26:19Z")
Of course not. That would completely destroy your argument. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/34 "2024-07-02T20:29:57Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > And those strongholds will only be as strong as they have armed defenders, so someone’s got to step up. Either the US Army is on your side and taking care of the other side, no matter how heavily armed they are, or they are on the other side and you’re screwed no matter how heavily armed you are. I guess in a total societal breakdown, where there is no US Army anymore, it might make sense. But, barring that, arming yourself against militias seems silly to me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/35 "2024-07-02T22:08:12Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > > [@DaveUnknown](#): > > > > I have no guns and I don’t want to shoot people. > > This. The only thing worse than killing somebody is being killed by somebody. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/36 "2024-07-02T22:21:44Z")
To make the claim is o.k., but to back up the claim is a hijack. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/37 "2024-07-02T22:28:13Z")
Am already armed, quite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/38 "2024-07-02T22:44:31Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > But, barring that, arming yourself against militias seems silly to me. If get a gun, it’s to arm myself against some rando maga in the area, not an organized militia. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/39 "2024-07-02T23:23:40Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > I already own guns, and I am planning to purchase a couple more. > > I’m afraid of the guy living across the street and my next door neighbor. Why buy more guns? I understand the logic of having a gun for self defense from a crazy guy, or a group of them. After the election, I can imagine maga crazies acting like the KKK, burning crosses and attacking “blue” people in their homes. Self defense may be necessary. But how many guns do you need? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591/40 "2024-07-02T23:55:26Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But how many guns do you need? Were it to come to that? I need enough that when one runs dry, I have another one ready while my son or my wife reloads the first one. I’m reasonably confident in my ability to handle a firearm - one shot should mean one bad guy out of action, but adrenaline is a sneaky thing and I might need more. And really, I just need to make it more cost-effective for them to move on to a different house - as cold as that sounds. With all that said, I have the guns I have for a combo of personal protection on a retail level and because I enjoy shooting guns. I don’t expect that I’ll ever need them for anything other than range/hunting fun. I’m not the guy that has a 9mm and 100k rounds of ammo for it (I actually know this guy - he’s nuts). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-trump-wins-do-you-arm-yourself/1003591.md?page=3)