You can't use foreign rebels to argue that Americans could similarly oppose a hostile government

[Hugabear]

Some people have pointed to rebels in Afghanistan and Syria as examples of people standing up to hostile governments or foreign invaders.

There's only one problem with this analogy. These foreign rebels are not limited to firearms that would be considered legal to own in the United States. Many of these rebels are also being equipped and funded by outside forces.

Last I checked, most citizens do not have access to such weapons as heavy machine guns, RPGs, mortars, anti-tank rockets, anti-aircraft missiles, heavy explosives, IEDs. How successful would rebels in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc be if they were limited to standard hunting rifles, shotguns, and pistols?

[Mojorabbit]

1. I think the concept is ridiculous

that this would ever happen here. I hope we as a country would use the ballot box to settle any problems. If it did though, against all odds, I am sure there are a ton of countries who would be happy to arm both sides just like we do in other countries.

[Recursion]

2. You don't think China would find a way to get arms into the US?

Cuba? FARC? Shining Path?

[Hugabear]

3. I bet they're just itching to arm a bunch of extreme right-wingers

The enemy of your enemy isn't always your friend.

[Recursion]

4. Don't I know it. We armed the Taliban, after all (nt)

[denverbill]

5. I think any of those groups would gladly arm the Teabaggers in their crusade against democracy.

[dmallind]

6. The numerous, and accurate, threads bemoaning RW domination of the US military may help..

..present one very plausible scenario. You think all the anti-government loons left the army with McVeigh and Nichols? None in the police, national guard either?

Not to mention the fairly sizeable pre-ban automatic weapons inventory, the questionable security at police stations and military bases, and the widespread knowledge of gunsmithing and machining ability.

Now would the insurrection "win"? Probably not - almost certainly not in a direct battle. But as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia etc have demonstrated, it's not always necessary to fight direct battles in insurrection-style conflicts. It's necessary to hold out until public opinion, most especially amongst the military and security forces, swings in your favor. With the Talibanesque indoctrination in the armed forces academies the last 20 years or more, I'm not sure how far of a swing that would need.