RottenApple wrote: Yes and no. The problem with this type of thinking is that it doesn't take history into account. Only 10-15% of the American colonists supported Indepenance, and only 3-5% actually picked up arms and fought. The rest were either for British rule or were yesteryear's versions of the low-information voter. They just didn't care. Our percentages of those who are ticked off and ready to support a return to Constitutional principles are already at that 10-15% or higher. Those willing to take up arms, however....well, we just don't know at this point.
Admittedly we wouldn't be fighting a tyrannical government half a world away with an ocean between us, but I don't think we have to worry much about our standing military. Unless the ethos has changed dramatically, US Servicemembers won't take up arms against American citizens. And I think we'd pick up fairly broad support from most of our civilian law enforcement agencies. The only things we have to really be concerned about are federal officers, particularly DHS, and the general apathy of the rest of the civilian population.
They're not the only ones forgetting history. We've played this tune before. From 1861 to 1865 to be specific. The army did take up arms against their own fathers, brothers, uncles and neighbors. Estimated death tolls are 10% of northern males from 20-45 and 30% of southern males from 18-40. Over 750,000 military deaths and untold civilian deaths. And that was before the technology to track and survail us like they have today.
We may yet come to armed violence in this country. But any person who wishes for it, who doesn't pray for the avoidance of it is a fool. Because it won't turn out the way they are deluding themselves into thinking it will. They won't be welcomed by the general public as redeemers. They won't have large bands of supporters picking up arms to fight along side of them. They'll be labeled terrorists and hunted like dogs. They'll have their friends, family, and closest loved ones turn against them and drop a dime on them. It won't turn out pretty for those who take up arms. The only way it could ever be won would be similar to Afghanistan against the Russians. And that means bringing our great country to the level of destruction of Afghanistan. How many people are going to have the stomach to support that? How many of the ones to take up arms are going to have the stomach to fight and kill their countrymen? And if in a bizzare twist of fate, the insurrection did succede and the Feds surrendered... What then?