# What Kind of Gun Should Rosa Parks Have Carried? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708 "2013-06-11T07:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/81 "2013-06-14T18:58:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Just pointing out historical reality. The Right was terrified of armed black people. Still are, really. Bigots and hypocrites. Your comment is unfounded, as are most of your comments. It wasn’t just the right. It was everybody. There was some serious shit going down back in the 60s and 70s. I remember when I was a deputy sheriff sitting through training on changing the way we did traffic stops. The reason was FBI reports of the Black Panthers installing a shotgun in the driver’s door of cars, so that they could crack open the door, fire a 12 gauge round right down the side of the car where cops are trained to approach, close the door and haul ass. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/82 "2013-06-14T19:06:56Z")
> [@bup](#): > > **John** , in fairness, Rush Limbaugh (and I think others) have claimed the civil rights movement would have been less violent had those in favor of civil rights been armed. > > The ironic tone of the OP was invited. Someone on another board addressed a commentator of this ilk who suggested that JFK wouldn’t have been shot if he’d been armed :smack:, and added, “And MLK would have been arrested if he was.” Let’s face it, if Adam Lanza had shot 20 kids with names like XuQuanzaa or Sharquavious, it wouldn’t have even made the local news and would only be discussed on racist blogs. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/83 "2013-06-14T19:15:58Z")
> [@RadioActiveRich](#): > > The question I have is how do you know she WASN’T already carrying what she preferred? If she were armed, that would have come out when she was arrested. Also, of course, Rosa Parks’ resistance was not on that moment’s impulse, it was a planned demonstration; and when you are intending/expecting to get arrested, you’d be a fool to pack heat. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/84 "2013-06-14T19:35:06Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I remember when I was a deputy sheriff sitting through training on changing the way we did traffic stops. The reason was FBI reports of the Black Panthers installing a shotgun in the driver’s door of cars, so that they could crack open the door, fire a 12 gauge round right down the side of the car where cops are trained to approach, close the door and haul ass. And these reports turned out to be (A) true (B) false, but were presented as real dangers to troopers by the FBI because of (A) fear (B) racism. (Hint - it’s a trick question. There’s no wrong answer to the second part). ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/85 "2013-06-14T19:43:13Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > What sort of gun should Rosa Parks have carried when she got on the bus? At first I thought that it should be a handgun in her purse. Rosa would have been able to get the drop on the bus driver, so that should have been enough to encourage him to shut up and keep moving. But then I realized that the white passengers should have been armed as well, and they would have been in their rights to defend the bus driver (who after all was obeying the law). To truly defend her freedom, as guaranteed in the Constitution and endowed by God, she would probably need something more like a street sweeper shotgun. I don’t know that much about guns, so I’m sure I’ll get some informed opinions. > > How about the mother who wanted to register her child to attend the white school in Little Rock? Should she have just gone down to the school by herself with a gun, or would it have made more sense to have a larger armed group accompany her? I’m sure that the local NRA could have provided some volunteers to demonstrate the importance of the 2nd amendment in defending against tyranny. > > Of course those are in the past, the real reason I need to know is that I have a gay friend who wants to be married and the courthouse refuses to allow it. What sort of gun should he bring with him to prevent the judge from denying him liberty? Should his fiancé bring a similar gun or would that be too matchy-matchy? > [@fumster](#): > > I continue to be surprised that no one has offered any constructive opinion on how Rosa Parks should have used her 2nd amendment rights to guarantee her civil rights. I remember many posters being clear that they would use guns to avoid having their guns confiscated, but surely the point of the second amendment is to prevent tyranny in all forms. We haven’t even gotten to other potentially more current questions such as how I should have used my second amendment rights to make sure that the Florida 2000 presidential ballots were re-counted. I’ll be as diplomatic as I can. I’m not a fan of the NRA or a huge defender of the Second Amendment, but if you have issues with the NRA or the brain arguments set forth by gun fetishists, but please don’t try and drag into it the Jim Crow era and Rosa Parks into it. Doing so is extremely offensive. FWIW, I feel the same about the gun rights crowd who squeal about Martin Luther King registering to own a handgun to protect himself and his family. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/86 "2013-06-14T19:47:25Z")
> [@bup](#): > > And these reports turned out to be > > (A) true > (B) false, > > but were presented as real dangers to troopers by the FBI because of > > (A) fear > (B) racism. > (Hint - it’s a trick question. There’s no wrong answer to the second part). Being afraid of being shot is so totally racist. I bet your racist too. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/87 "2013-06-14T19:49:04Z")
His racist what? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/88 "2013-06-14T19:55:26Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Being afraid of being shot is so totally racist. I bet your racist too. Spreading misinformation that black panthers are mounting shotguns into driver’s side doors is. It’s about as believable as urban legends about bad guys hiding under your car to grab you when you approach. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/89 "2013-06-15T00:22:52Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’m not a fan of the NRA or a huge defender of the Second Amendment, but if you have issues with the NRA or the brain arguments set forth by gun fetishists, but please don’t try and drag into it the Jim Crow era and Rosa Parks into it. > > Doing so is extremely offensive. Not saying it’s not offensive, but I’m wondering, can you elaborate on why you find it offensive? I think the underlying message is intended to be highly complimentary to Parks: it’s saying, “Look, dumbshits, there are effective ways to stand up to an unjust, tyrannical government. Rosa Parks knew how to do it. It didn’t involve waving guns around.” I don’t see that as offensive, but I’m open to being educated on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/90 "2013-06-15T01:52:12Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’ll be as diplomatic as I can. > > I’m not a fan of the NRA or a huge defender of the Second Amendment, but if you have issues with the NRA or the brain arguments set forth by gun fetishists, but please don’t try and drag into it the Jim Crow era and Rosa Parks into it. > > Doing so is extremely offensive. I’m not sure what got into me. How could a discussion of using 2nd amendment rights to defend civil liberties have referred to the Jim Crow era? I should have used a more race-neutral example. What kinds of guns should Japanese Americans have used to prevent them from being sent to internment camps? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/91 "2013-06-15T02:51:50Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I’m not sure what got into me. How could a discussion of using 2nd amendment rights to defend civil liberties have referred to the Jim Crow era? I should have used a more race-neutral example. > > What kinds of guns should Japanese Americans have used to prevent them from being sent to internment camps? Noone who refers to tyranny and the second amendment is referring to tyranny that is imposed democratically. We have other parts of the constitution to prevent that. Thay are talking about a tyranny that is undemocratic. The segregation and oppression that went on in Alabama was imposed by the majority on the minority. An unarmed citizenry can be subjected to a tyranny of the minority. This is a lot harder to do to an armed citizenry With that said the particular type of tyranny that the second amendment would protect against is highly unlikely to occur. It would take the collapse of society or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/92 "2013-06-15T04:05:30Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > With that said the particular type of tyranny that the second amendment would protect against is highly unlikely to occur. It would take the collapse of society or something like that. …something more likely to be hastened by second amendment zealots and gun nutters than discouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/93 "2013-06-15T04:07:18Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Noone who refers to tyranny and the second amendment is referring to tyranny that is imposed democratically. We have other parts of the constitution to prevent that. Thay are talking about a tyranny that is undemocratic. > > The segregation and oppression that went on in Alabama was imposed by the majority on the minority. > > An unarmed citizenry can be subjected to a tyranny of the minority. This is a lot harder to do to an armed citizenry > > With that said the particular type of tyranny that the second amendment would protect against is highly unlikely to occur. It would take the collapse of society or something like that. Seriously, do you even fucking hear yourself? You very clearly CAN have a democratic tyranny. The majority can and do make decisions to benefit them over the rights of any minority and it happens even in a free and liberal democracy. In a democracy the minority only wins when it changes the mind of the majority, gathering firearms and threatening to shoot cops and soldiers does not aid and severely hinders that objective. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/94 "2013-06-15T04:12:32Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Seriously, do you even fucking hear yourself? You very clearly CAN have a democratic tyranny. The majority can and do make decisions to benefit them over the rights of any minority and it happens even in a free and liberal democracy. > > In a democracy the minority only wins when it changes the mind of the majority, gathering firearms and threatening to shoot cops and soldiers does not aid and severely hinders that objective. I think you are in violent agreement with the post you are quoting. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/95 "2013-06-15T04:14:42Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I think you are in violent agreement with the post you are quoting. Very well. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/96 "2013-06-15T04:39:41Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > I’m not sure what got into me. How could a discussion of using 2nd amendment rights to defend civil liberties have referred to the Jim Crow era? I should have used a more race-neutral example. > > What kinds of guns should Japanese Americans have used to prevent them from being sent to internment camps? The Rule of Cool demands tommyguns for that situation. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/97 "2013-06-15T06:33:02Z")
Look I’m not going to read through this whole thread but it’s obvious that the 2nd amendment only applies to white folks, ok? ---
**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:** [June 15, 2013, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/98 "2013-06-15T07:08:30Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > What kinds of guns should Japanese Americans have used to prevent them from being sent to internment camps? Probably one of those fancy bolt action Arisaka rifles. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/99 "2013-06-15T14:30:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The Rule of Cool demands tommyguns for that situation. Knee mortars. On T Rexes. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708/100 "2013-06-15T19:20:54Z")
There is no objective definition of tyranny that justifies armed revolution. There is no app for your iPhone or Android device that says “tyranny” or “no tyranny.” However, armed revolution is obviously the final and most serious step. People realize that it will likely lead to their own and friends’ death, imprisonment, or possibly torture. It is only invoked when all other possible methods are exhausted and the current situation is intolerable to the point where risking your own life or freedom is necessary so that your kids or your neighbors may possibly have a semblance of freedom. The OP presents a strawman in which 2nd amendment supporters use violence to right almost every perceived wrong. Jefferson even said that the overthrow of government is not for “light or transient causes.” As is admitted, the civil rights movement and communism in Eastern Europe succeeded without resorting to armed resistance. It doesn’t mean that those governments weren’t wrong or that they weren’t tyrannical, but in those situations there was a better way. On some rare occasions, there is not a better way. On those occasions, the population needs to be armed. Nobody is saying to go around blasting away at government servants because you disagree with a law. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-should-rosa-parks-have-carried/660708.md?page=6)