Increasingly normal: Guns seen outside vote-counting centers

Because that's what this situation needs: Goobers with guns.

Zaphod,

How about we do an experiment? Let's have a large group of African Americans gun-up, go to predominantly white neighborhoods, talk about "protecting" people (Yet another fun fact: we pay people to do that. They're called "Police") and see what white people think of that?

I mean, fair is fair.....

Did you know; the Gun laws of the late 60s were enacted with GOP support because of fears of African Americans acquiring guns? Funny how that happens....

Miller-Idriss said the protesters often see themselves as heroes “called to action in a moral way, to react against tyranny, against traitors.”

It didn't seem to bother them for the previous four years though. Weirdos who watch too much telly.

So "patriotic" that they wear hats, glasses, and bandanas to cover up their identity.

Every time I see a white American male carrying around a long gun in public, I cannot help but wonder if it is a Freudian compensation for "something".....

It's like watching a fledgling democracy under siege.

Thoughts and prayers?

“I’m here to protect a peaceful protest,” said Keith Owen, who carried a black, semiautomatic assault rifle and wore a handgun in a holster strapped to his leg.

Loaded up with all that weaponry? Who is he protecting against? The PLA? ISIS? Imperial Stormtroopers?

this is terrorism

Ex-military types in camouflage outfits and body armour, parading with big guns and flags. No sinister overtones there at all, then. I expect a chorus of approval from Trump's loyal fans here.

Poorly educated, unstable people with guns are the perfect explosive mix.

They’re the last thing this country needs!!!

Bet the masked cowards with guns and kevlar are rabidly anti-mask when not intimidating election workers.

Protecting democracy with intimidation? Shame on you USA. Put the intimidation and toxic personality politics aside and return to the debate.

So "patriotic" that they wear hats, glasses, and bandanas to cover up their identity.

Excellent point. It's ironic that the Trump supporters not carrying guns, are not wearing masks. Yet, the ones who are, cover their faces up. Do they really think they are so brave?

This is very bad.

Side note: you have to look closely to see them, but am I the only middle-aged white American without a poorly thought-out tattoo?

sigh..........middle America.

Didn't see many masks when people were burning down and looting their own communities which YOU said was perfectly fine to do.

And if they had rioted in, say, your communities? If they had protested in majority white areas, how do you think that would have gone down?

As I said before, like in Ireland and in South Africa - that's all the protesters had. Their own communities. And they paid a heavy price, even then.

Back in the US, they were tear gassed, pepper sprayed, snatched off the streets, moms and veterans brutalized outside a church so 45 could have his photo op.

A cowardly, angry, hopeless would-be dictator and his rag tag army in their final throes of impotent rage.

Biden lead by 4-million votes, and here we are still wondering who will win. Truly an American Exceptionalism!!

Scary to say the least. These people think they're normal is what's really off the rails. They're just a slight extension(maybe) of the normal voters for Trump. I'm not sure that's true, either, most of them probably approve of this activity. Trump exacerbates crazy activity and gun threatening people. I'm glad he's out. What a terrible influence on America he has been.

What’s wrong with that? They know there’s been voting fraud by Biden they’re just supporting their cause. Good on them for voicing their support amidst this obvious rigging

And this is yet another example just why Trump and his cult are destined for the dustbin of history.

It should never be ‘normal’. Anyone who thinks it should needs a long hard look at themselves.

“I’m here to protect a peaceful protest,” said Keith Owen, who carried a black, semiautomatic assault rifle and wore a handgun in a holster strapped to his leg. His vest held extra ammunition. He described himself as a veteran who served in Afghanistan and now lives in Arizona.

Such "protection" is not the responsibility of citizen vigilantes.

the laws in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan — where guns have been seen outside vote-tabulation centers in recent days — allow people to openly carry firearms in public.

This is just crazy laws allowing guns, much less multiple round weapons, to be carried in public.

America is messed up. They watched too much Rambo and played too many violent video games.

My thanks to the following for helping to turn America into a dystopic hell:

Newt Gingrich

Rush Limbaugh

Roger Ailes and Fox News

Sean Hannity

Tucker Carlson

Alex Jones

Steve Bannon and Breitbart

the NRA

the good folks of QAnon

a gullible, amused-to-death American public

a spineless GOP

and of course special kudos to the center of the universe, Donald Trump

—God forgive me if I left anyone out.

Good argument for mail-in voting.

I don't know why anyone would be surprised by this. For months I've been talking about the civil war scheduled for later this month. And here it is taking shape.

Good thing they watched Fox "news" then elected a troll. Well done Trumpets.

if these people get shot in an incident, I'll send them my thoughts and prayers.

Go home with your AR's boys. No need for that nonsense now.

Unless your trying to start some shite. I am all about party and Red. But absolutely no need for arms like that out in the open unless your law enforcement and or an aggressive alien species just landed zapping everyone in too ash like Word war Z.

2nd Amendment from the age of flintlock muskets and pistols to allow for militia on the occasion of tyranny, not SARS in the time of, well they say it is democracy:

ARREST THE VOTE COUNTERS!”

At least it is not simply “shoot” the vote counters - yet.

Not just the gundamentalists, but the online army is at it, too.

*A texting company run by one of President Donald Trump’s top campaign officials sent out thousands of targeted, anonymous text messages urging supporters to rally where votes were being counted in Philadelphia on Thursday, falsely claiming Democrats were trying to steal the presidential election. The company’s CEO is Gary Coby, the Trump campaign’s digital director. It provides text-messaging services to GOP clients including the Republican National Committee.“ALERT: Radical Liberals & Dems are trying to steal this election from Trump! We need YOU!” the text said, directing recipients to “show your support” on a street corner near the Philadelphia Convention Center where votes were being counted and tensions were running high.*

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/nov/06/us-election-joe-biden-donald-trump-result-latest-who-is-winning-live-2020-updates#block-5fa648da8f0870a6e75f8fd9

How about when you see black panthers doing the same?

Got a news link for that?

I mean not 4 decades ago, you know, recent.

They are actually quite hospitable if you’re visiting and don’t challenge their politics of their intellects. 

There in lies the danger. They seem normal, at first. Kinda like the Stepford Wives, they have a blank look when it comes to certain subjects, dress nicely, and then pull out their guns.

When Donald Trump was inaugurated as 45th U.S. President in 2016, I thought his government wouldn't last longer than one year. But this assumption of mine was completely wrong. There're so many Trump supporters in the U.S. who are willing enough to believe whatever he says -- there's no Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S.; the other party is stealing votes from him. 

Trump supporters, armed with shot guns and semi-automatic rifles, are even thronging to vote-counting centers to prevent the counting which they claim is forgery. Can the world trust democracy a la USA now? Can the U.S.A. lead the world as a champion of democracy?

foreignbrotherhoodarmy

 Good on them for voicing their support amidst this obvious rigging

If there's obvious rigging, you're right to claim as you do. 

But what is evidence for your claim? Trump's logic is this. Since "I was gathering more votes at one time, but now that I'm getting less and less votes, they must be stealing votes from me." Do you call that obvious rigging?

Plenty of images from 4 years ago, and also from a couple of days ago, if you step outside your CNN bubble.

So, you got nothing then.

Didn't see many masks

and

Actually, there were masks

Better calm down, anger is not going to change anything!!!

The Quill, Pen is mightier than the sword, lay down the Rambo posturing weaponry.

An idiom that resonates, that language and the spoken word when harnessed with knowledge and wisdom has a far stronger impact on people than pulling a trigger.

What would be absolutely hilarious....

After Trump is tossed out and if he somehow dodges all his legal troubles - he then announces he's going back to being a Democrat...

He says he's pro-choice, for an assault weapons ban, supports the Iran nuclear deal, etc...

What do his supporters do then? My bet is the cultists follow the cult leader - even if they reupdate everything they believed in before...

The Republican point was that they should defend themselves from the great evil wolves. What do these persons defend themselves from? This is something they always tried to do all along, to be able to mediate when they don't get what they want. That's incorrect!

P. Smith, US Presidents come and go. Donald Trump is no exception to that rule.

These armed, weekend warriors, will make a point, then march back home to their families.

After all family comes first. I would not be surprised if a push comes to a shove all would lay there firearms down.

These be-ins are exactly what Trump wants. Another iteration of reality TV.

The big man knows that he has lost, and knows that his legal challenges will fail. He has a whole career full of failed court cases. His strategy has always been about getting the spotlight. This is a guy who sues banks after he defaults on a massive loan. Time and again he’s turned failure into an asset.

Who knows what Trump’s future holds (including him), but the long game for him has always been about getting attention. And he knows that there are plenty of suckers in America ready to change channels and tune in to the next big distraction. Featuring him, of course.

Usual AP spin... Trump is not going to loose a such a fraudulent election

Semi literacy is the Right’s secret handshake.

P. Smith, Yes, I agree, optimistic, and a tad naive.

Even more so since I have never set foot in the Country (USA).

I have numerous business dealings, yet my experience of US life is through video conferencing.

I will one day tour the Country which I have always wanted to holiday.

One thing I do fully understand is politics, and economics.

I also believe wholehearted, that the American people, and yes indeed these armed protesters will make there point then feed the baby.

An American is not a complete citizen unless he is armed. The national ideal is a 24/7 fully armed citizenry acting in countervailance to everyone else within shotgun range.

Poorly educated, unstable people with guns are the perfect explosive mix

I remember the old Joe Biden saying, "poor kids are just as bright as white kids." So that means ALL are equal. Definitely going to be an explosive 4 years!

Bob Fosse

How about when you see black panthers doing the same?

Got a news link for that?

I mean not 4 decades ago, you know, recent.

Plenty of images from 4 years ago, and also from a couple of days ago, if you step outside your CNN bubble.

Semi literacy is the Right’s secret handshake

Nope, that's definitely the left, the radical left..

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

P. Smith

No, they weren’t. No media outlet or democrat ever claimed the rioters and looters were peaceful protesters

Oh, so you have been watching dissident media like Breitbart or Gateway Pundit? Because CNN et all did exactly that constantly.

Usual AP spin... Trump is not going to loose a such a fraudulent election..

Graham DeShazo

Every time I see a white American male carrying around a long gun in public, I cannot help but wonder if it is a Freudian compensation for "something".....

How about when you see black panthers doing the same?

What’s wrong with that? They know there’s been voting fraud by Biden they’re just supporting their cause. Good on them for voicing their support amidst this obvious rigging

The protesters with weapons are a small minority of the demonstrators. There have been no reports of anyone getting shot, 

.....but still, this is the center of media attention, while the Antifa rioters and looters were "peaceful protesters". Par for the course.