• tocopherol [any]@hexbear.net
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        1 day ago

        The person shot had been at protests armed before, if security was actually familiar with leftist protesters they wouldn’t have been so quick to judge.

        Image from bluesky of the armed “potential mass shooter”(from a different protest):

      • WoodScientist [she/her]@hexbear.net
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        1 day ago

        I would assume they’re just there to protect protesters from police. Generally shooting at cops is a bad idea, but having enough armed protesters around does cause cops to be on their best behavior. Remember that protester a few days ago in LA that was being assaulted by police on horseback? That’s the kind of situation where someone would have been fully justified to shoot those officers, an act of simple self defense.

        It’s rare for cops to actually shoot openly armed people. They’re only incredibly trigger-happy against unarmed people. Every cop knows that it doesn’t matter if the law is on their side. If a cop starts shooting at someone that is themselves heavily armed, there’s a good chance that cop isn’t going home tonight. Having armed protesters prevents police from taking lives with impunity.

      • Z_Poster365 [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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        1 day ago

        idiotic. This is an open carry state where dozens of people are armed. He wasn’t “running around” and he didn’t have his rifle raised either. There’s footage of it. He’s just walking around with the gun in a resting position when they shoot at him

            • Rey_McSriff [he/him]@hexbear.net
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              21 hours ago

              I don’t know what to say other than I don’t trust fellow yanks with guns who I don’t know. I wouldn’t have gone wild west on anyone like the “peacekeepers” did but I’m not going to be able to tell at a glance that someone wearing all black is a “good guy”

              • Z_Poster365 [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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                21 hours ago

                Well I’m sure there were about 500 armed people at that march alone, Utah is open carry. I personally approve of demonstrations of armed force at our protests, although I think it should be more regimented and disciplined than anarchists meandering around with their own guns

                • Rey_McSriff [he/him]@hexbear.net
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                  21 hours ago

                  Yeah, I don’t doubt there were lots of guns out that day, but I 100% agree with you that if you’re going to open carry at a protest like this, do it with an organized group. Not blaming this particular individual for getting shot or getting others shot, but I think the confusion is understandable

          • pinesolcario@lemy.lol
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            21 hours ago

            I’m a liberal gun owner. Am I amerikkkan now too? Such a stupid two brain cell fighting for third place comment.