Number Crunching and Arguments

[WETWRKS]

This is in response to anti-gun arguments and not a call to action...

Ok...one of the reasons for citizens to own firearms is to be able to resist an oppressive government. Over and over I have heard the anti-gun crowd state that gun owners cannot stand up to the military should the government decide to turn against its citizens...and the other night I began to think on it and crunch some numbers.

There are an estimated 300 million firearms in the US. I suspect those numbers are low but I will accept and use them for this hypothetical situation. Then take into account the recent article I read that states the average gun owner owns 2 firearms...that means there is approximately 150 million gun owners in the US. For the sake of argument say 10% decide to fight back when the military is sent in to disarm them...that works out to 15 million armed citizens fighting back.

On the other hand let's look at the military...there is 1.4 million enlisted. But...that is not combat troops...that includes cooks, doctors, office staff, and mechanics. Say 10% are actual combat troops...this leaves 140 thousand troops to gather the firearms. Then we also have to take into account that the military tends to draw patriots and a good portion would not be willing to turn against their families and friends and countrymen...and a chunk of them would even take military gear and help fight back against the oppressive government. Say that leaves 100 thousand still doing as they are ordered and acting against the law on US soil against their countrymen.

15 million vs 100 thousand...when we divide that out we have a ratio of 150 to 1. There are very few...if any...military actions that have succeeded when faced with those odds.

Frankly I suspect the 10% gun owners fighting back is high...probably more like 1% and I suspect the 100k military following orders and acting against the people is also high...probably more like 20k...but the numbers work out either way. Even if it is 1.5m vs 100k...the odds are still greatly in favor of the citizens.

[00tec]

3%

[KevDen2005]

3%

I would use 1 % just for arguments sake. Just to give the lowest possible number in the argument. It would be also important to note that an extremely high number of those gun owners are prior/current military, prior/current LE, instructors and medical personnel, and many who have taken up lots of additional training.

[KevDen2005]

On the other hand let's look at the military...there is 1.4 million enlisted. But...that is not combat troops...that includes cooks, doctors, office staff, and mechanics.

Uh...Every Marine a Rifleman!!!

[WETWRKS]

On the other hand let's look at the military...there is 1.4 million enlisted. But...that is not combat troops...that includes cooks, doctors, office staff, and mechanics.

Uh...Every Marine a Rifleman!!!

Lol...true...but not true of every branch. And these are averages.

[ChadAmberg]

3%

You mean III% right?

[00tec]

You mean III% right?

Yeah, but I'm not Roman. Haha

[KevDen2005]

Yeah, but I'm not Roman. Haha

God Bless America

[KevDen2005]

Lol...true...but not true of every branch. And these are averages.

Well I know a lot of Marines, and it's not true of them either. Every range day I give so much crap to the marines that used to be truck drivers. But it's all in good fun.

[OtterbatHellcat]

And...we as citizens can't get the gov to pull their head out of their collective asses.

Quite ironical.

Interesting thoughts, WETWRKS.