# What would America do if Muslims with guns protested outside of churches? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 8, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814 "2015-12-08T11:23:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grsz11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grsz11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grsz11)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/1 "2015-12-08T11:23:56Z")
It would be news everywhere. GOP candidates would freak out. But they are silent over protests outside of mosques. Why the double standard? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/2 "2015-12-08T11:41:32Z")
Sadly, there would be at least one such protester shot and killed by a “good Christian”. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/3 "2015-12-08T12:34:02Z")
I’m sure it would mark the dawn of a new era. Where Muslims and Christians come together and finally put the animosity shared between them to a long deserved rest. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/4 "2015-12-08T14:51:12Z")
> [@Grsz11](#): > > It would be news everywhere. GOP candidates would freak out. But they are silent over protests outside of mosques. Why the double standard? Why do you think? It’s not [del]brain surgery[/del] rocket science. I find it hard to believe that you don’t know, so why don’t you tell us? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/5 "2015-12-08T14:54:19Z")
What would they be protesting? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/6 "2015-12-08T15:01:22Z")
> [@Grsz11](#): > > It would be news everywhere. GOP candidates would freak out. But they are silent over protests outside of mosques. Why the double standard? I guess it depends. Are these American citizens? Are they protesting in a legal fashion? Are they carrying the guns in a legal fashion for their state, county, city or whatever? Then I’d guess that while the GOP might freak out (some of them…others would be in favor of the right of Americans to keep and bear arms), and as long as they aren’t breaking any laws or threatening anyone with those guns that ‘America’ wouldn’t do a lot. Some folks would probably be afraid, since we seem to be going back into the bad old days where Muslim=terrorist and some people are afraid of anyone who they even THINK is a Muslim, but the law is the law and it applies equally to anyone who is an American citizen. Now…some cops might not THINK that’s the case, but in the courts any Muslim who is protesting legally is going to win that case. What would they be protesting, btw? What are the Christians protesting in front of Mosques btw? And are these people all armed? I must have missed this in the news (no snark intended…I really haven’t seen anything about this). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/7 "2015-12-08T15:21:19Z")
> [@XT](#): > > What are the Christians protesting in front of Mosques btw? And are these people all armed? I must have missed this in the news (no snark intended…I really haven’t seen anything about this). [This](http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2015/11/armed-protesters-set-up-outside-islamic-center-of-irving.html/) is the demonstration, from November 20, that inspires the conversation. [Here](http://www.npr.org/2015/12/07/458811232/deepening-anti-islamic-mood-in-texas-rivals-post-sept-11-climate) is some more context. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/8 "2015-12-08T15:47:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What would they be protesting? > > Regards, > Shodan Radical Christian Terrorism, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/9 "2015-12-08T16:12:35Z")
At least the radical, extreme, dangerous right-wing fanatics protesting at the mosque didn’t shoot anyone. And the idea that they needed guns, or were in any danger just for protesting, is obviously just paranoia. [I mean, it’s not like that ever happens in Texas](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/03/gunmen-shot-dead-in-texas-after-opening-fire-outside-prophet-muhammad-cartoon-show/). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/10 "2015-12-08T16:16:05Z")
So what did they need masks for? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/11 "2015-12-08T16:25:15Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So what did they need masks for? Meh, I can understand people wanting to maintain their anonymity. It wouldn’t surprise me if Theo van Gogh spent the last minutes of his life wishing he’d published anonymously. Same for the Charlie Hebdo staff. There are quite a few people in hiding because of very credible death threats against them for offending Muslims. If people feel the need to wear masks to a protest against Islam / Sharia / whatever, I say let them. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/12 "2015-12-08T16:27:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So what did they need masks for? They don’t take them off until someone says the safe word. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/13 "2015-12-08T16:32:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > If people feel the need to wear masks to a protest against Islam / Sharia / whatever, I say let them. Sure, _let them_. But don’t be disingenuous about their motives. The Klan doesn’t wear hoods because they fear reprisals, and neither did these people. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/14 "2015-12-08T16:32:45Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > [This](http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2015/11/armed-protesters-set-up-outside-islamic-center-of-irving.html/) is the demonstration, from November 20, that inspires the conversation. [Here](http://www.npr.org/2015/12/07/458811232/deepening-anti-islamic-mood-in-texas-rivals-post-sept-11-climate) is some more context. So…it’s not exactly a massive protest, just a few loonies. They are armed, though. Of course, the reason they are armed is kind of silly, but then, they are a bunch of nuts (albeit nuts with guns, which is such a great combo in the US). From your second cite: > [@](#): > > Last month a group of protesters showed up on the sidewalk in front of the mosque, shouldering loaded rifles and holding a sign that said “Stop the Islamization of America.” Their spokesman is a man who identifies himself as David Wright and carries a tactical 12-guage shotgun to demonstrations. > > “I can show up and protest unarmed and be a sitting duck for the next pair of ISIS members that decide to come along and blow our heads off like they did in California — or I can show up there prepared to defend myself,” Wright says in a telephone interview. He declined to give his age, profession or where he lives, fearing harassment. So, I guess the answer to the OP as to why Muslims aren’t all freaked out or ready to do equally nutty things like this is because they can probably count (a dozen nutters out of a population of over 300 million isn’t that vast a problem…even if it was 20 times that number) and probably aren’t that worked up about it as long as it doesn’t turn violent. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/15 "2015-12-08T16:40:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Sure, _let them_. But don’t be disingenuous about their motives. The Klan doesn’t wear hoods because they fear reprisals, and neither did these people. I could easily see it being some of both (intimidation and fear of attack). It’s not like people who are critical of Islam don’t have a history of ending up assaulted or dead. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/16 "2015-12-08T16:41:39Z")
There is no significant history of it in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/17 "2015-12-08T16:58:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > They don’t take them off until someone says the safe word. > > Regards, > Shodan Trump? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/18 "2015-12-08T17:07:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I could easily see it being some of both (intimidation and fear of attack). It’s not like people who are critical of Islam don’t have a history of ending up assaulted or dead. Are you saying that protesting armed and masked in front of a church is a perfectly reasonable thing to do? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/19 "2015-12-08T17:10:26Z")
> [@Abe\_Babe](#): > > Trump? No, NASCAR. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814/20 "2015-12-08T17:16:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There is no significant history of it in this country. Not sure which country that is. Throughout the world’s recent history, there’s certainly a bit of a trend: Theo van Gogh Pamela Geller Humayun Azad Rajib Haider Avijit Roy Salman Rushdie Charlie Hebdo James Foley (not sure he really belongs on a list like this) There are probably a few more that I can’t think of off the top of my head. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-america-do-if-muslims-with-guns-protested-outside-of-churches/739814.md?page=2)