Guns at Coronavirus Quarantine Protests: Listen For the Loudest Scream
“Throw a rock into a pack of dogs; the one that screams the loudest is the one you hit.” –My Granny
Many Americans nationwide are beginning to question the wisdom of letting the Coronavirus quarantine run indefinitely as the economy sheds about half a million jobs for every business day that we remain in lockdown–and many of those same Americans are letting our local government know about it by exercising both our First Amendment and Second Amendment rights at armed protests.
Whether or not we personally think it’s generally wise to open carry at an organized protest that is not specifically about gun rights, I think we can all agree that everyone who is doing that is well within their rights as Americans. But there’s much more that’s going to shake out of this than pictures of 2A supporters whose hair could really use a trim. These protests, and the reactions to them, are going to tell us who needs to be thrown out of office in November.
My granny used to say, “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that screams the loudest is the one you hit.” When Americans show up armed to a protest, we’re not threatening to shoot anybody. We’re throwing a metaphorical rock into a pack of dogs. Now is the time to listen very carefully for the ones who scream the loudest.
In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to determine who among our elected representatives respect our Constitutionally protected rights. That’s because the COVID-19 quarantines as they are being enforced infringe upon not one, not two, but the first three specifically enumerated rights in the Bill of Rights. After all, Michigan’s Governor Whitmer has actually ordered Michiganders to not move between homes that they own.
Telling citizens that they cannot occupy their own private property comes about as close to violating the Third Amendment as has happened in about 250 years. Throw in the fact that stay-at-home orders directly violate our First Amendment right to assemble and the widespread violations of the Second Amendment that have happened since those orders came down, and you’ve got a perfect storm of unconstitutionality unlike anything we’ve seen since…well, ever.
The fact that many protesters are showing up visibly armed is unusual in that under normal circumstances, you don’t tend to see people open carrying at protests that aren’t specifically related to the Second Amendment. However, as we just discussed, these aren’t normal circumstances. What’s happening here is that many American citizens–myself included–believe that it’s time to remind our elected officials of some salient facts, which are as follows:
- Elected officials serve at our pleasure. They are there to represent us, not to rule us.
- Americans’ participation in quarantine and stay-at-home orders is voluntary. That’s because our right to free assembly and petition of grievances are natural rights, endowed upon us at birth.
- Americans have three separate avenues of recourse when our rights are being violated. They are as follows: soap box, ballet box, and ammo box. In that order. Right now, we’re on Soap Box.
The indignant howls at the very nerve and impudence of Americans to Peaceably Assemble while they are Keeping and Bearing Arms are already very instructive. Here’s one response from a Michigan lawmaker:
“As a retired law enforcement officer, I don’t think they should be able to bring guns into our chambers,” he said. “A lot of people are emotional. They feel like their rights are being infringed on and who do they want to take it out on? Lawmakers. It’s unsettling.”
The mainstream media isn’t even trying to hide their revulsion for armed protesters. Check out this headline:, which reads: “Armed militia members, other protesters demand ‘freedom’ from Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s stay-home order.”
Yes, some journalist and/or editor decided to put scare quotes around the word freedom, their implication being that what the armed protesters are doing and asking for is ridiculous. That should enrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about how their governor is handling the COVID-19 crisis, or whether they think it’s a good idea to legally open carry at a protest.
Here at Freedom’s Lodge and our sister site Guns & Gadgets Daily, we’ve been tracking the ways in which the anti-gunners have tried to take advantage of the Coronavirus crisis, and our promise to you is that we’ll keep it up…and we’re listening for the loudest yelps coming from the anti-gun pack.
Protests of any sort, but especially gun related where “We The People” leave our firearms behind or hidden is the very reason we are having so difficult a time right now with the government, the media, and the anti gunners all around. I carry concealed or open depending on the season. I don’t like the gay pride flags, or in the 90’s the thing with Malcolm X. I dealt with it because it was their right, but I have to listen to malicious slander about me or my family, friends, or simply another gun owner and hide my weapon because they can’t control themselves and it may escalate the situation? The hell with that. If they escalate the situation from the soapbox to the ammobox then they get what they deserve. I use my voice and I’m not afraid or worried what others “think” or “feel”. I use my vote the very same way. I don’t sling it in their face, but I am getting sick and tired of all you folks saying that hiding your weapon so as to not upset the idiots is the right thing to do.
Did it change the focus? Apparently not since we are here discussing it. Did it get the attention of the governor and other politicians? Probably so. So get off your high horse and go hide with your guns and gear at home. What they did worked.
While I generally don’t think that open carry is a good idea, I am a 2A supporter and agree that the people at the protest had that right. Open carry is legal in my state but hardly anyone ever does it, largely, I think, because it is way to ostentatious and frightens people.
Agreed! People look and act as if you are just a criminal.
“Carrying swastikas or Confederate flags is beyond dumb.”
Seriously? You have no concept of the meaning of the word freedom. I disagree with them politically but it is their right to express their beliefs just as much as it is mine. So you’re one of the rights for me but not for thee crowd. I get it.
I agree With you 100%. I think what he’s trying to say is that these symbols may have bad memories for some Americans or be more inflammatory and distracting from the the point we are trying to make. Just as everyone has the right to be what they want, they don’t have to be in my face to make the point.
I wasn’t going to comment since I don’t live in Michigan but after seeing some of the comments from the nervous nellies (or are they ‘karens’) – especially those claiming to be pro 2A – I changed my mind.
A couple of points 1) ABSOLUTELY nothing untoward happened at any of the rallies, nothing nada zilch zip. But according to the antis blood should have been running down the capital steps and into the street. 2) WHEN is the ‘approved’ time to carry weapons at peaceful protests? Someone above noted that it served to remind those politicians – OUR employees – to be mindful of their obligations to their Citizens. 3) has anyone seen actual photos of those Confederate Flags or nazi symbols? Nope, the one nazi symbol photo posted has been debunked – by Andy Ngo as being from a rally in BOISE Idaho, no where near Michigan.
last point – when the redcoats showed up at Lexington and Concord, did Captain Parker politely ask them using pretty words and flowery phrases to turn around and march back to Boston as the Free Men there ‘requested’?
Y’all decide when and where it is proper to resist.
BTW – IF we have to resort to the cartridge box there will be NO winners – just losers and will require a LOT of pine boxes.
BINGO!
Two points on your article. You fail to list the reason the Governor of Michigan told people to not travel between their primary and secondary residence. Many of those secondary residences are in Northern Michigan where the healthcare system isn’t set up to handle the amount of cases we had here in Detroit. She was trying to keep our rural health system from getting overwhelmed. Detroit had the third highest level of cases in the country and it was quite easy to spread the virus to rural areas as the weather warmed and people went to their cottages. If you are going to state a fact, you should give the entire story, but that makes your article less shocking, so you don’t want to do that.
The second point is that the open carry protesters at protests which have nothing to do with 2A rights only serve to scare the crap out of people who are afraid of guns and open carry. As a proud gun owner, I can tell you that these protesters doing open carry are doing a disservice to the 2A movement. They are fueling the fire that anti-gun advocates paint of people who own guns as being unstable and crazy. Open carry at a protest which has nothing to do with guns happens for one reason, the person carrying believes that it will intimidate those on the opposing side. I’ve been competitive shooting and hunting since i was 12, I’m 100% comfortable around guns and see them as just another tool, but these open carry protesters even have me wonder if they are unstable and uneasy about joining in on any protest where they may be present. If we really want to get more liberals on on side with rights to keep and bear arms, then we need to self check those of us who are doing harm, not by encouraging them.
Carrying as they are is unsettling. IMHO they’re taking the point of the protests and hiding it under the mass hysteria of anti gun fervor. There’s a point that they are missing. “Just because you can there’s nothing that says you should.”…
I carry concealed 24/7/365. What can these people not do the same? That serves our purpose of being armed wherever we go without taking the point of the protest, (unwanted orders about freedom of movement) and completely erasing it by insisting on making guns the new focus. Good work people. You changed the reason for protesting into something unrelated, but you express surprise when we can’t get things done. You set us back 75 years by being so macho about your other rights that weren’t even mentioned until you made them the new focus. With friends like you we don’t need enemies.
Every one of you could have concealed a 1911a1 and 4-6 magazines under your shirt and all they would have seen or heard was your complaint about the travel bans. Instead those orders are forgotten and you’ve stirred up a new pot of crap soup.
It does not matter WHERE your residences are located. You have the right to travel freely throughout your state (and country). As to open carry, I quote Thomas Jefferson: ‘Where the people fear the government there is tyranny. Where the government fears the people there is liberty’. The LIBERALS are the unstable ones, not those who believe in upholding our rights. With friends like you who needs enemies?
The people from Detroit area, were trying to get away from the virus. If they were instructed to stock up at home for everything that they would need for three weeks, drove straight to their cabin, and self-quarantined themselves for the required two weeks, then there would be no problem. However, the governor didn’t use common sense in what you could/couldn’t do; you could buy liquor or pot (state revenue), but you couldn’t go fishing (isolated/self-distancing), or go camping (the whole point of camping is to get away from others).
The Open-Carry protesters are very much like the Alphabet-Soup Gay-Rights group: Instead of prancing around in weird clothes, screaming chants, the Open-Carry protesters goose-step about, wearing tactical gear and weapons, and chant, “We’re Here, We Wear Gear, Get Used to It”. The irony is, that the rainbow people are the ones that are catered to by the government, are respected by the media, and are much more likely to get violent when they don’t get their way.
Before finding fault with open carry protestors you might want to talk to them first and find out their motivations for doing it.
Ignoring the fact that these armed protests have had no ANTIFA or other trouble makers so have remained violence free. You are entitled to your own opinion which is another of our rights. But the armed protestors were reminding the socialists where the power actually resides while you hide under the bed..
Agree, we do have that right to be armed against tyranny, which is in process in that state.
I’m a benefactor member of NRA, Life member of GOA, CCRKBA and SAF. It’s just plain dumb to open carry guns at anti lockdown rallies. It totally distracts from the message. It invites the press to stereotype us as violent loons or “militias”. Carrying swastikas or Confederate flags is beyond dumb. I wonder if people doing that aren’t deliberately trying to sabotage the demonstration. American flags, signs saying “freedom” or “lockdown is killing us” would help. Open with prayer or God Bless America or the national anthem. You can be loud, passionate and responsible.
WHO CARES what the idiotic, liberal, clueless and biased mainstream media thinks?
Now is the time to list your reasons that specific politicians should be voted out of office in the next election. Keep the list, Add to it every time you notice an additional reason to remove them from office. Keep videos from the news or wherever you find them which show them saying or doing things that are illegal or improper.
Share your thoughts on social media, in places of business that you frequent, to your friends and relatives, in your church if appropriate. Keep working on this until the election.
Got my first shotgun at 10, and have added steadily. I realize that it’s a right to bring a gun to a public setting in some states. It doesn’t mean you have to. Half or more americans are un familiar with firearms of any type,and are frightened by them. Guys with AR15s at the statehouse screaming at state police is asinine. It begs for escalation, then a shootout. WE don’t bring firearms to a friction filled protest. You put the citizens and police in danger. In this time we have to be responsible gun owners. Ignorant people who know nothing about guns want to take them all away. Don’t give them an excuse. A shootout with police at a protest is an excuse, especially with news cameras rolling.
Absolutely agree. I feel very strong about our 2nd amendment as I was raised around guns and don’t have that false stigma we have cultured in the U.S. that breeds fear of guns. As we all know , that “fear” is what causes accidents and that brings validation for the response. EDUCATE! INTRODUCE! POSITIVE EXPERIENCES! These things will save our given rights. EXERCISE YOUR/OUR RIGHTS WISELY SO AS TO NOT CREATE FEAR OR ANIMOSITY. GUNS ARE NOT THE ENEMY, ONLY PEOPLES ACTIONS AND POOR DECISIONS WITH THEM ARE. Just as a gun doesn’t cause harm, a car never drove itself into a harmful accident. It’s all about RESPONSIBILITY!
If you are frightened by guns DON’T attend the protests or TURN OFF YOUR TV SET!
Great use of that old saying. Interesting, that I heard it and use it, but with a herd of pigs, not dogs. It certainly is appropriate for this topic.. Well stated.
Larry
Jackson, MO