Well, in Afghanistan, several different major military powers sent in troops in armored vehicles, backed by air support, and in some areas artillery.
Despite vast technological, numerical, and weapons superiority, Afghan insurgent groups were able to continuously present a serious threat to all of the world's badass military power. Same thing happened to Russia in that same area 30 or so years prior.
Our military's experience there and in Iraq really puts a dagger in the heart of your argument that an armed populace cannot hope to resist a government that wishes to subjugate it.
Edit to add: And it adds credence to the premise that the only way to completely control a population is to disarm it.
Despite vast technological, numerical, and weapons superiority, Afghan insurgent groups were able to continuously present a serious threat to all of the world's badass military power. Same thing happened to Russia in that same area 30 or so years prior.
Our military's experience there and in Iraq really puts a dagger in the heart of your argument that an armed populace cannot hope to resist a government that wishes to subjugate it.
Edit to add: And it adds credence to the premise that the only way to completely control a population is to disarm it.