On one hand, you aren’t wrong that the private arms fetishization has seen a sharp uptick.
On the other hand, private arms ownership is a step of preparation and readiness, and a sign of taking the current crisis seriously.
I don’t think anyone is about to cobble together a private militia and overthrow the government, or even put up a meaningful fight if the government takes an interest in them. Nor do I think that if the SWAT team busts down a leftist’s door, they’re gonna turn into Rambo at a moment’s notice. But between the risk of vigilantes/paramilitaries in far-right regimes and their planning, and the practice of familiarization with means of resistance, private arms ownership in the current climate is not inherently bad or useless.
On one hand, you aren’t wrong that the private arms fetishization has seen a sharp uptick.
On the other hand, private arms ownership is a step of preparation and readiness, and a sign of taking the current crisis seriously.
I don’t think anyone is about to cobble together a private militia and overthrow the government, or even put up a meaningful fight if the government takes an interest in them. Nor do I think that if the SWAT team busts down a leftist’s door, they’re gonna turn into Rambo at a moment’s notice. But between the risk of vigilantes/paramilitaries in far-right regimes and their planning, and the practice of familiarization with means of resistance, private arms ownership in the current climate is not inherently bad or useless.