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Well, yeah. NOW of all times is exactly when the fascists would want to disarm the populace.

Right? My tin foil thoughts immediately went to them upholding states’ rights on this because they know which states will ban and which won’t.

Honestly, it’s clear SCOTUS cares as much about precedent as your average billionaire cares about the livability of the planet 100 years from now so hearing that they’re not going to listen to a case like this is refreshing

Several northeast states passed kneejerk legislation of this type in the wake of Sandy Hook. Common sense gun legislation that provides a pathway to purchase for those without red flags without violating the privacy of owners would be nice, but neither Democrats or Republicans are capable of passing any such legislation. Republicans want no regulation at all while Democrats want to score points in a punitive culture war.

The AR platform is high modifiable, has a nearly infinite number of configurations, can be customized to meet just about any need, and is easily the most widely available sem-automatic rifle on the market. This makes the barrier for entry (to being a mass shooter) much higher.

"assault weapons" are a nebulous concept. that law sounds like it was closely tailored to match the AR-15 and its clones, since that's the closest definition anyone can agree on. but it's not like thumb position, stock design etc. make the AR-15 more lethal than other rifles.

why don't they just ban semi-auto rifles? for home defense you can use a handgun, for hunting you can use a bolt action rifle of a pump action shotgun. you eliminate the bump stock loophole and it becomes harder to mow down a crowd.

Everyone acknowledges that the problem is mental health, everyone is convinced that solving guns is the answer.

You wanna know what I can make using styrofoam (or soap) and gasoline? Fucking napalm. You wanna know what will cause a lot more harm than a gunshot? Fucking napalm.

And how exactly will an AR-15 help you against a fascistoid government?

For folks actually interested in defending themselves and not just cosplaying as Delta Farce or Gravy Seals:

If you can't handle the fact that you may have to take a life someday, DON'T BUY A GUN PERIOD. Gun ownership is a serious responsibility that we as a country unfortunately don't treat as such. If you do decide to get one, the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to train, even just target practice, don't buy something and stash it in a shoe box (have somewhere secure to keep it!). Make sure you take a stop the bleed class (good idea if you're American period), and know your local self defense/gun laws backwards and forwards. If you've never touched a gun before, have someone who can show you how to safely operate and handle it before even considering buying one. This may be difficult if you're openly leftist/LGBTQ+, but there are liberal/LGBTQ+ gun owner groups, or the Socialist Rifle Association, who might have, or help you find local groups/organizations/stores that aren't right wing cultists. They should also be able to guide you on buying something that fits your use case (e.g. Home Defense or Concealed Carry) and that you can safely handle.

For a few options that aren't an AR: In states that ban the AR by name but don't have a blanket AWB, you may be able to get a Ruger Mini 14. Uses the same caliber, and has interchangeable magazines, only difference is it's wood and patterned after the M1/M14. Ruger also makes something called the PC Carbine, which is a 9mm carbine that can take Glock magazines. Then, there's the SKS which can be retrofitted to take box magazines, but those are now rare and expensive. There's also the good ol' AK-47/74 but those tend to be swept up in legislation that ban weapon platforms by name. You could also choose to get really, really good with a lever gun or shotgun. Heck, if you join the Civillian Marksmenship Program, you can get an M1 Garand! You can also get a pistol such as a Glock 19 or 43x which, while less effective than a long gun, is something at least. I would choose the 43x if you decide to get a concealed carry permit; it's very slim, good for small hands, and has a 10 round magazine which is legal most everywhere. There's a lot of options to choose from out there that get overshadowed by the AR, and thanks to our gun fetishism, it'll probably be a while before they're all legislated away.

Consider these two events

I don't think that's what the SCOTUS was thinking about when they reached this ruling.

More likely it was California man arrested near Kavanaugh’s home, charged with attempted murder of justice

If you want to fight fascism if things go south, you’ll need weapons

I guess. But you also need widespread popular support. Randos with guns acting independently aren't any better at repelling fascist governments than unarmed protestors.

What American liberals lack isn't merely guns, it's militias.