The "want to be" gun confiscators would have a daunting job ahead of them

[stanc]

The AR15 and the Glock, along with Beretta, M&P, etc 9mm's, are the insurance policy for the common person. Every time there is a gun-control style scare, a "We're gonna get the guns" moment, people rush out and buy them like hotcakes. I can't imagine that everyone doing that has a huge desire to become a marksman just at that time coincidentally, although that would be fine... no, this is a real-life manifestation of folks getting their insurance policies against... well, government tyranny. I think that is precisely the interpretation that we see every time something like this happens.

I think that's the wrong interpretation. IMO, they're not stocking up for "the revolution." They're just buying something they desire because they fear it might not be available later.

Main thing about insurance policies, you don't want to have to use it, but you get it just in case. Insurance is not intended to prevent that disaster you're buying it for, but to either mitigate or compensate for it or lessen its effects on you. Hence I'm not so interested in whether, academically, the 2A or an armed populace is to completely deter aggression or a tyrannical takeover... I'd be willing to bet that the common interpretation is that it goes a long way to prevent it, gives the would-be dictators lonngggg pause before they try something...

I agree, that does appear to be the common interpretation. But, it looks like more of a myth, than a truth.

...but in cases where they do try such a takeover, an armed citizenry can wreak some pretty devastating consequences.

That takes us back to my original observation. When both the citizenry and military were armed with single-shot muzzleloaders, the citizens had the same destruction potential as the military.

Today there is no such "balance of power." The best weapons available to most citizens are semi-auto rifles, while the military arsenal is several orders of magnitude greater in destructive force.

The consequences of such a lopsided matchup would be devastating, to be sure, but not for the military.

That plus the internal will to take those steps when needed. King George found that out. Hitler and Hirohito, yes and Bin Laden and several others as well.

King George was defeated by organized military forces, not armed citizenry. Same for Hitler, Hirohito, and bin Laden.

Now if somebody really is against this freedom they can give up all of their arms and rely totally on the State to give them something if an when It deigns to...

But as for me and my house, I will INVOKE my insurance policy(ies) if ever such an event comes to pass.
Stan you can choose otherwise that's your prerogative.

Meh. I'll be dead of natural causes long before such an event comes to pass.