It does matter. This is indefensible, but I also spent a lot of time in countries when I was growing up that had troops and police with fully loaded rifles stationed at every bank and airport and city center- it is entirely different, and we need to acknowledge that there is a difference to make sure it doesn't happen here. If what these cops were carrying was fully lethal, against people that pose no threat (edit: OP said they were breaking up a protest, in which case this has been SOP for over a decade,) we'd have crossed a truly terrifying line in the sand as a country. That is not to diminish or excuse all the other terrifying lines in the sand that we've crossed, or that this picture portrays, just to note that there really is a difference that matters.
We're not in disagreement. I was saying that regardless of whether they're real guns, pepper guns, or toy guns, the end result (i.e. tyranny being enforced) is the same.
Yes, what I was trying to say is that there are different forms and levels of tyranny, oppression, and state intimidation. I've had pepperball guns pointed at me, and I've had a real gun pointed at me, and everyone, in that moment when the barrel is pointed at them, knows the difference. That difference does matter. On a personal level, and on a state level.
Right. That's true if you know what kind of gun's being pointed at you. But if you don't, then you're always going to assume that it's a real firearm, and feel that maximum level of intimidation.
Doesn't matter. The intent to intimidate and enforce compliance to tyranny is exactly the same, even if the guns were not loaded at all.
It does matter. This is indefensible, but I also spent a lot of time in countries when I was growing up that had troops and police with fully loaded rifles stationed at every bank and airport and city center- it is entirely different, and we need to acknowledge that there is a difference to make sure it doesn't happen here. If what these cops were carrying was fully lethal, against people that pose no threat (edit: OP said they were breaking up a protest, in which case this has been SOP for over a decade,) we'd have crossed a truly terrifying line in the sand as a country. That is not to diminish or excuse all the other terrifying lines in the sand that we've crossed, or that this picture portrays, just to note that there really is a difference that matters.
We're not in disagreement. I was saying that regardless of whether they're real guns, pepper guns, or toy guns, the end result (i.e. tyranny being enforced) is the same.
Yes, what I was trying to say is that there are different forms and levels of tyranny, oppression, and state intimidation. I've had pepperball guns pointed at me, and I've had a real gun pointed at me, and everyone, in that moment when the barrel is pointed at them, knows the difference. That difference does matter. On a personal level, and on a state level.
Right. That's true if you know what kind of gun's being pointed at you. But if you don't, then you're always going to assume that it's a real firearm, and feel that maximum level of intimidation.