A quarter of Americans open to taking up arms against government, poll says

[TheProle]

Source: The Guardian

More than one quarter of US residents feel so estranged from their government that they feel it might “soon be necessary to take up arms” against it, a poll released on Thursday claimed.

This survey of 1,000 registered US voters, published by the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP), also revealed that most Americans agree the government is “corrupt and rigged against everyday people like me”.

--

Of the 28% of voters who felt it might soon be necessary “to take up arms against the government”, 37% had guns in their homes, according to the data.

One-third of Republicans – including 45% of “strong Republicans – hold this belief about taking up arms. 35% of independent voters, and 20% of Democrats, also agreed, the poll said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/30/poll-americans-guns-against-government

[maxsolomon]

1. sounds about right.

great framing, UC IOP. "corrupt" and "rigged" are common GQP slander words consistently used against Dems by President Asshole.

[Vinca]

2. I have one response to that 25%: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.

[PortTack]

5. You nailed it!! Go ahead..f..k around and find out

[mitch96]

23. Ahh but are they willing to BLEED to accomplish it? or pray tell DIE? loose a limb or Maimed ?

Poop in a bag for the rest of their life?
How much blood and treasure are they willing to give..
m

[Dan]

27. That was my immediate thought.

Doesn’t take anything to talk shit,
But a different can of worms - when you really have to put your ass on the line.

[cloudboy07]

64. hope their life insurance is pay 'd up ! next of kin might need it !

[PortTack]

65. My opinion..no none of them are. Easy to talk a big game sitting in a recliner watching fux

[MarineCombatEngineer]

85. 99% of these fuckwads have never seem actual combat,

even those that were in the military, most haven't been in an actual shooting war where the enemy is shooting back, so I suspect that the majority would drop their weapons and shit their pants at the first round whistling past their head.

[TwilightZone]

13. Yep. There are few more delusional than those who think they can win...

against the armed forces barricaded in their houses with small arms.

[inthewind21]

15. Exactly, and it only takes one.

Not one branch, One young soldier sipping a latte at his desk in some remote mobile location hundreds of miles away can take out your whole compound in Mississippi between sips!

[Rebl2]

22. I think

some believe in tfg and what he was doing. Same with police.

[Auggie]

26. What about National Guards? That might be iffy in certain in regions.

[Dan]

28. The NG that are iffy, would be very good against civilians,

But against another branch of the military (full time service members) - it will be another story.

Yes, they will inflict pain, but they will catch more hell than they can deliver.

[paleotn]

35. Whispering death....

It's what they don't hear that should worry them.

[The Grand Illuminist]

49. More like National Guard and US Marshalls

Because if they go full military, that would just prove them right and strengthen their cause because military against their own is a major conspiracy theory on the far right.

[rpannier]

63. Drones The great unequalizer

If they think they'd win, the can move into their hidey holes and get blown up by an armed drone

[maxrandb]

69. These folks crack me up

As a 30 year Navy Mustang Officer, I love hearing from the 101ST Chairborne.

It's funny, but when I imagine these "tough" guys, I always remember that I personally witnessed folks like this break down and cry if the Mess Decks Ice Cream Machine was secured for cleaning, or if the Ship's Store ran out of Cheetos.

It really does make it clear to me that all of these "I'll take up arms" fucksticks have one thing in common:

They've never seen a Carrier Air Wing, DDG, or Marine Expeditionary Unit in action!

[Vinca]

71. "Chairborne." OMG - that's seriously funny.

[maxrandb]

72. Somewhere in the internet is a combat patch for the 101St Chairborne

I am not completely tech ignorant, but I sure as heck can't figure out how to post an image in a thread on DU.

[Vinca]

83. I can't figure out how to post an image either, but I googled it and I'm still laughing.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

90. "101st Chairborne"

Well played!

[shrike3]

82. Response I've been using for years. They don't have much of a response.

[former9thward]

87. In any revolt the military is part of it.

[maxrandb]

92. I take comfort in knowing this from my service

There are some fucked-up wingnuts in the military, but for every one Mike Flynn in the ranks, there are 50 Admiral Stavrides' General Powell's, Master Chief Breshear's, General Austin's and Commander Luria's.

The vast majority of the military will be on the side of freedom, Democracy and progress.

[former9thward]

94. What I take from the service

is that commanders would not mean shit in a revolt. The percentage of the ranks going one way or the other would probably be similar to the population that they come from.

[maxrandb]

95. Today's military is so different from the Civil War era

It's not like a bunch of yahoos from some Dumbfuckistan Murika shithole are going to commandere a couple of Aircraft Carriers, or Submarines, or Tanks.

It would be the forces of the United States, against a bunch of ignorant fucksticks, and it wouldn't matter how many hundreds, or thousands of AR-15s they have once the real shooting starts.

No, I predict that this Civil War would be American Forces being required to go into places like Ohio to prevent Gym Jordan from hurting himself, and restoring Democracy to states that have tried to kill it.

Some folks claim I am too reactionary, but the Federal Government has a "vital", almost "singular" role in protecting the Constitutional rights of American citizens.

I mean, we did fight an entire bloody war to prevent States from doing whatever the fuck they wanted to do.

Unfortunately, Reconstruction was murdered in it's crib before the war could truly be resolved.

I am sure there would continue to be pockets of America here and there that would want to return us to the 1850s, but those pockets wouldn't be in State Legislatures, Court Houses, or even the Supreme Court.

It's kind of important to acknowledge that the last time the Supreme Court went rogue, it took war to stop at.

[former9thward]

96. Well my service was not in the Civil War.

I will leave to others to speak to that.

[maxrandb]

97. Neither was mine

My point is. I have seen these fucksticks at Donnie Dipshit rallies. I have heard them speak in Congress...looking at you Merge and Boebert.

They can barely make change at a Walmart Parking Lot Lemonade Stand, let alone even figure out where the Combat Engagement Center is on a DDG, or flight deck control is on a Carrier.

Bottom line is, it's not going to be, "Hey Florida and Texas, you take half of the Carriers and we meet at dawn"

It's going to be "Hey Florida and Texas, restore Constitutional rights to your citizens, or we will"

[electric_blue68]

98. I hope it doesn't come to that ... And I'm glad to know this!

101 Chairborne......? Mmmpphff .. baaahahahaaaaa! 😄

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

89. +1

They'd shit their pants in fear. Meal Team Six would be no match for Seal Team Six.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

93. +1

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. They want to take up arms against Democrats running government. Republican government is A-OK.

Idiots.

[erronis]

8. They want to take up arms against what the Fux News/Russian network tells them to.

These people aren't really into nicely dissecting the fine points of any issue (other than a deer carcass, or perhaps a spouse.)

If their media input device tells them to hate any group, they'll be there - in lock-step. Heil!

The US education was purposefully dumbed down in the last 40+ years to allow these idiots to be treated as normal citizens. The soviet infiltration is a long game.

[OAITW r.2.0]

34. Agree with all your points. So, in reality, the minority is at war with the majority to run things.

We best do away with the filibuster, or we are well and truly fucked.

[certainot]

74. one pew poll found 25% of americans often get news from radio

[erronis]

76. Yes, radio is huge in the heartlands (flyover country). Salem, Bott networks - xian.

[burrowowl]

4. Sad state of affaires!

[peppertree]

6. The "2nd Amendment just in case" crowd

I remember seeing those bumper stickers often, after the Sandy Hook massacre (which they all believe was staged to "take mah gunz!" ).

Luckily, we have the National Guard on stand-by. You know - just in case.

[Beachnutt]

7. That means 3/4 of the folks do not

want that , not good odds in my book.

[roamer65]

41. Exactly.

[former9thward]

88. In our Revolution the percentages were about the same.

About 25-30% supported it, about the same opposed it and the rest did not take any part of it one way or the other.

[LiberalFighter]

9. I wouldn't necessarily do it against the government.

I would consider it needed to be safe from the crazies.

[malthaussen]

10. I'm sure a good few of them are lying because it makes them feel tough.

But even if it were a full quarter -- Arithmetic is not on their side.

-- Mal

[ffr]

11. Yawn. That's hardly news. It's certainly not LBN, in my book.

We've always known there's a contingent of RW losers who will vote for and support loser RW politicians no matter what. And with the success of propaganda outlets filling their impressionable minds with all sorts of deadly whisper campaigns, yeah, they'd kill the Pope if told to do so. It doesn't matter who or what political party. Brainwashed dipshits who've surrendered their thought processes to what they're told will do as they are programmed, including take up arms against the government of the United States.

[bronxiteforever]

12. Comedian Jim Jeffries

“ But you do know the government has drones, right? You get that? You’re bringing guns to a drone fight!”

[Traildogbob]

14. I want

Dem leaders or even generals to come out for a news conference and repeat their oath of office. And tell these terrorists right to their faces that WE WILL defend the nation against enemy within as our oath stated. We will kill your generals, Bannon, Jones, Hannity, Jordon, Cruz, Hawley, Cotton all trumps, Stone, Flynn, all of them. Taken out immediate. All you little fascist militias. And your one eyed leaders. Dead. Believe this. You do NO match for our fire power. Do take this to the bank, you take up arms against this nation, you will be eliminated. You, your wives and any children that join you. You WILL be killed. So think long and hard. This country will NOT fall under minority terrorist rule. So stand down and stand by, 3/4 of this country will be protected as per the constitution and our oath. You’ve been alerted. So fuck off. Your not welcome here. Good riddance. Mass graves in red states will be provided. No questions. The news conference is over. Have a good night. Mic drop.

[3Hotdogs]

17. Keep in mind, Proud Boys and Oaf Keepers have been recruiting from military and police organizations

We may not be as safe as we thought.

[Traildogbob]

21. I know,

But not enough. If it’s only 1/4 of the military. That 1/4 willing to take arms most likely include active police and military. Many many Dem vets are not gonna lay down and cry. I may well die, but not without a fight. I will not live under that shit. 2/3 of those wimpy loud mouth assholes from J6 will cry and shit pants at the first shot as will many key board warriors. That does not leave many against the strongest military on the planet. That’s all I will say about it. They will not walk over us and take this country. No war is safe. We are close to war. It’s what they want. We may have to chose. Fight or die. We want be the first Americans facing that choice.

[Wednesdays]

40. From Fail Safe:

"You learned too well, Professor. You learned so well that now there's no difference between you and what you want to kill."

[Traildogbob]

44. I will protect me and mine, you do you.

Shoot at me and my daughter for not bowing to trump at their own risk. You watch from your couch. I will NOT cower when threatened to be killed. Sorry, just me. I learned from the Gubment, the one that put me in that situation, survive or die, for one reason, and it was not for our democracy. So yea, I learned, that’s why I made it home alive. Be damned if some bubba trumper tries to take me or her out after all that. I will take extremes to keep my daughter alive. You do what’s best for yours. I live in Rural, rural mtns. Hear those MF’s shoot hundreds of rounds a day. If ain’t for rabbits. Yea, I learned, had no choice. Big difference why I would go to extremes to fight back. My daughter and her fellow nurses have to have security leaving hospital after 12 hour night shift from those assholes threatening still. So yea, I’m a little sick of their shit. You face it your way. I have my plans. No apologies.

[erronis]

46. A powerful point. Have political and military stand in front of cameras and cite their allegiance

to the Constitution. Not to the flag or the president or their particular god. To the Constitution.

And pledge to stand for the Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. And make sure that the message includes all insurrectionists, political operatives that plotted against the US, and garage-style terrorists that just want to use the "stuff" on somebody. The "stuff" that should have gone to their own (or children's) education instead of the weapons manufacturers.

[Traildogbob]

51. That's all I'm saying

Take the threat right to them. Let them know the consequences and hell that will come down on them. Stop the passive crap, it gives them the OK. Heard a clip of Alex Jones ranting today about trumps big plan to announce his 2024 run over the fourth and screaming get ready warriors, it’s time to go to work. This veteran is sick of death threats. We have been through enough shit, on edge with psych issues already. Sorry if I am being too aggressive to some here, but damn it. They best stop poking at mentally wounded vets, with those threats. Especially ones with a daughter or any child to protect in “this” coming war. We did things to survive and come home from a war we had no idea what it was for, we know what the fight will be for here. Do NOT make those threats at their own risk. Being cheered on by the likes of trump, Jones, and Bannon. Never served a damn second for this country. And threaten us. Fuck that noise. Again, sorry, I’m sick of this being allowed and pushed be Carlson’s, Hannity’s et all. Wish any one of those would show up at a bar military people hang in, and run their coward privileged mouths. Would not be pretty,
Thanks for you reply.

[erronis]

53. I've not been there, but may have to be. Your caring for this country and us - the US

is evident.

I'd hope to have people like you around if the stoopids try to pull another stunt.

I'd love to see Bannon, Flynn, Stone, tfg and spawn, Fux at their frontlines when shit starts to fly.

[Traildogbob]

54. As it has always been

The ones stoking for war are never up front or near danger. Always let others die, tell em it’s for them and their freedoms. Maybe give their family a flag for their sacrifice, for the war lords, and their profits. I DO care about the country, environment and a future for my child and others. I hope my service and that of all vets alive and gone, was not in vane. It’s starting to look as though it was for naught. Thank you. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to defend for that purpose.

[h2ebits]

16. The problem with polls. . . .

1. Data is extrapolated by using a sample. In this case, a very small sample of 1,000 registered voters when there are literally millions of US registered voters. I consider the data to be invalid based on sample size alone.

2. Questions are frequently phrased so broadly that interpretation by the individual is needed prior to response. i.e. perhaps some people interpreted the "soon be necessary to take up arms" against the government as "I am afraid our government is degrading into fascism and I may need to take up arms to stop the christo-fascists from taking over and bringing the country down. -or-perhaps some people interpreted the question as "I believe the big lie by Trump and his henchmen that the vote is rigged and we must fight to control other people into believing in our belief system."

[SouthernDem4ever]

45. Which is why the OP title is ludicrous

it does not represent a quarter of Americans. It represents a quarter of those polled.

[h2ebits]

47. Yes

[d_b]

18. I'm here.

Just bought an AR-15 after roe was overturned.

Awaiting orders, sir.

[Lil Liberal Laura]

19. And give up their PlayStations and PornHub?

Color me doubtful.

[walkingman]

20. I wish they would....the sooner we rid ourselves of these people the better off we are.

[NickB79]

24. "20% of Democrats, also agreed"

It's not just Republicans anymore.

[Dan]

29. I think that the Democrats are no so much pro-civil war, but rather reactive to the crazies.

[hay rick]

39. This Democrat not disagreeing.

A hyper-fascist supreme court is protected by the filibuster until gerrymandering and electoral nullification laws can be brought to bear. The democracy for the people is effectively neutered. We know how to deal with foreign enemies but not domestic enemies...

[Evolve Dammit]

52. That sounds exactly right.

[milestogo]

30. And by "the government" they mean any democrat who gets in their way.

[Orrex]

32. So many gun fetishists happily lined up to goosestep behind their sacred orange asshole

Funny that they'd always insisted that they needed their precious guns! guns! guns! to defend against tyranny, but when the tyrant showed up the couldn't wait to prostrate themselves before him, and their worship continues.

[Red Mountain]

33. Only 37% of the 28% who MIGHT be ready to go own guns?

Were they confused? Did anybody explain to them what arms were?

When the 10% (generous) start killing government officials do they expect everybody else to just watch?

I wouldn't.

[paleotn]

36. Not surprising....

America has always had a rather raucous lunatic fringe.

[Aussie105]

37. There is a strong feeling amongst a few people

that the government is there to serve them.

They are not happy with that service. Their lives aren't as they think it should be.

Their solution?
Overthrow the government, with violence if need be. Then, somehow, their lives will be improved. As if by magic.

Every country has these delusional miscontents.

Just the American version has guns.

[C Moon]

38. The other 75% are open to putting them in prison.

[roamer65]

42. ...or shooting back.

[PSPS]

43. "A quarter of americans have been sucked into the media outrage porn industry" - fixed it

[FailureToCommunicate]

48. I'm not too worried. They will have to waddle off their Amigo, disconnect their oxygen, try and

lift their rifle...and THEN find a target.

Meanwhile, law enforcement will be ready to round 'em up and haul 'em off to the pokey.

[weissmam]

50. Talk is cheap

and most are cowards and sheep

[Calista241]

55. It's easy to watch a movie and think you can fight a war, or even a skirmish.

It's much, much different to actually be in that situation. Just look at the police in Texas; they were TRAINED, and still weren't able to perform to expectations.

[Grins]

56. Sick of this horseshit!!!

Not the first time I heard this.

Better question: How many Americans feel it might “soon be necessary to take up arms” FOR the government and against those traitorous fucks?

Signed,

Me - One of those damn liberals who served in an Infantry Division and qualified on every damn weapon on the main battle TANK!

[BidenRocks]

57. Welcome to Fantasy Island!

The plane, the plane!!
Never mind. It's a drone.

[progree]

58. I very well might be one of those come 2025.

[dameatball]

59. Same folks that complain they can't go anywhere or do anything because gas prices went up. How

are they going to get to the battle, take a bus?

[Oneironaut]

60. Delusional.

Real life isn't like Call of Duty.

We've already had a Civil War. It was horrific. You'd have to be braindead to want that again.

[The Grand Illuminist]

100. It is not about "wanting"

It is when there is no choice in the matter. It is a game of who can get the other side the most angrier to the point of committing atrocities.

[intelpug]

61. one quarter of us residents

These polls stir a lot of crap that frankly, I don't believe. They say one quarter of the nation believes this or that after polling 1000 registered voters. I don't care what the polling apologists say, after what we have seen of polls and polling in the last few years there is no way I will take the responses of a mere 1000 voters ON ANY SIDE as a reliable indicator of how the nation as a whole feels about an issue. I'm calling bullshit on this one

[hadEnuf]

62. Well maybe, but the other 3/4 are about ready to take up arms against that 1/4 who want to violently

take over the government, so....

[Shellback Squid]

66. and liberals are not armed and trained

lol

[Woodwizard]

68. What someone says on a poll,

and what they would actually do are quite different. Most I bet can't even run a 100 yards let alone have any combat training or discipline.

People filled with anger and hate turn on each other in short order, not that they would survive long if they tried to pull it off.

[The Grand Illuminist]

70. Just remember these words from a right wing shooter.

Who I wanted to kill was every Democrat in the Senate + House, the 100 people in Bernard Goldberg’s book. I’d like to kill everyone in the Mainstream Media. But I knew these people were inaccesible to me. I couldn’t get to the generals + high ranking officers of the Marxist movement so I went after the foot soldiers, the chickenshit liberals that vote in these traitorous people. Some one had to get the ball rolling. I volunteered. I hope others do the same, it’s the only way we can rid America of this cancer this pestilence!

--Jim David Adkisson
shooter of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on July 27, 2008

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

73. I hear this kind of thing and ask;

'in what ways is the government demonstrating it is corrupt and rigged against everyday people? Please cite specifics'

[SouthBayDem]

78. And what would they replace this "corrupt government" with?

Push hard enough - they'll admit they want to be the ones doing the oppressing and corruption.

[twodogsbarking]

75. Why do you think they want the guns?

[bucolic_frolic]

77. The solution for this is to start a war

and conscript them

[sarisataka]

79. I love the braggadocio

Of those who know they will never have to back their words with actions

[PatrickforB]

80. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ENEMY. It never has been

The enemy is the billionaires and corporate officers who have steadily undermined our confidence in the institutions of government. This is a well funded corporate long game, beginning with Powell's 1971 Manifesto to the US Chamber laying out the whole thing, and then Reagan's pocket veto of the Fairness Doctrine.

Add in the 'voodoo' Chicago School supply-side (trickle down economics), and a rock solid, diamond-hard elevation of shareholder profits above everything else - profits over people EVERY time! - and we have individual taxpayers paying in $0.86 of every dollar the government collects while corporations only pay in $0.068 when the ratio USED to be 35% corporations: 45% individuals.

What else? Gunz, gunz, gunz - mass shootings on a daily basis. Forever wars. Massive spending of our tax dollars to bail out corporations when they screw up. Systematic transfer of money from our treasury to the pockets of billionaire parasites. And a well-funded right-wing noise machine that spouts out lies on cable, radio, and the internet, complete with corporate-funded super-pacs that use dollars as 'free speech' to lie to us.

Now, there are more guns than there are people in the US, and most are owned by these Proud Boy - III Percenter types.

We will be lucky if we can save the republic.

WE HAD BEST ALL REMEMBER THERE ARE MORE OF US - MANY MORE - THAN THEM.

[Crowman2009]

81. Their all about taking up arms until bullets & shrapnels start flying at them.

RW nutjobs don't learn a damn thing until something bad happens to them. They seem to be under the delusion that nobody will shoot at them.

[tavernier]

84. Breaking news?

These polls du jour are just annoying and not news IMO.

[live love laugh]

86. "The government" is PEOPLE--civil servants.

So they’re threatening to kill our reps.

The poll question is phrased in a shitty way.

[myohmy2]

91. I wonder...

...what percentage of the 28% were in the military?

...I would think in a civil war scenario how the professional military breaks would make the difference...

...I'm not sure most of today's military would defend the Constitution instead of a trump...

...not a pleasant thought...

...

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

99. Well...how are they defining "government?" Here in WI, it could conceivably come

to that. The new redistricting map is even more onorous than the old one giving our Reptilian Overlords a 60-40 advantage. If single party rule becomes so corrupt and authoritarian, and democratic process and accountability in a court of law ceases to exist.... well, excercising 2nd amendment would indeed be one of the possibilities. That could explain the 10% of Democrats.

[Pete Ross Junior]

101. Only someone very stupid would admit such a thing to a pollster.

So it has to be more. They can't all be quite that stupid.

That doesn't mean they have immediate plans for insurrection, only that they'd join it if it looks like it might win.

[imavoter]

102. If they think gas prices are bad, ammo prices aren't any better n/t

[Stuart G]

103. What is important is that 25% are the crazy violent people..

Taking up arms is the very last thing..What it really proves is that they have no idea how the government
works for them. No idea about public education, social security, national parks, food stamps, medicare, emergancy aid
when hurricanes hit, government control of food, and so on, etc, etc, etc,

....These people are lost and are very dangerous. They are thinking that the government is totally bad,
and that it needs to be ....."shot down"...........

....These idiots don't even know how the government (yes, all forms, state, local and national) really helps them to
live safely. They are like Trump is. "totally clueless and stupid beyond stupid"