US Gun Laws

[Elok]

No, if anything packing heat is going to decrease the odds of cooperation. You can try to knock over the place, or you can try subversion. Trying to subvert while carrying guns draws attention to yourself, which defeats the point of subversion. Mr. Commandant sees you toting a pistol when you go make him an offer, he's going to think "Geez, this guy doesn't know what the hell he's doing. I give him the goods, he'll blow up a grocery store or something next week and it'll be traced right back here. Better nab him and gift-wrap him for central command, that'll get me some brownie points."

[Al B. Sure!]

What about my example of the Cuban Revolution? A very small number of men armed with limited weaponry (I think they even converted a bulldozer into a makeshift tank) soundly defeated the Cuban military complete with American-supplied, WW2-surplus tanks and aircraft. And it wasn't like Batista wasn't trying to suppress Castro. He suspended political rights and according to a 1969 US Gov't report, Batista killed 20,000 civilians as part of his efforts to suppress the communists.

Okay, it may have been Cuba and not the US but Castro's forces numbered in the mere hundreds at most and they defeated an entire nation's military force.

[Elok]

Wiki says Batista was under a U.S. arms embargo for much of the war, so his tanks and aircraft were falling apart and couldn't be repaired. It's not like I know a lot about the Cuban Revolution, but that's what it says.

[The Mad Monk]

No, if anything packing heat is going to decrease the odds of cooperation. You can try to knock over the place, or you can try subversion. Trying to subvert while carrying guns draws attention to yourself, which defeats the point of subversion. Mr. Commandant sees you toting a pistol when you go make him an offer, he's going to think "Geez, this guy doesn't know what the hell he's doing. I give him the goods, he'll blow up a grocery store or something next week and it'll be traced right back here. Better nab him and gift-wrap him for central command, that'll get me some brownie points."

...and I'm sure that's why the drug cartels go around unarmed.

[Elok]

...and I'm sure that's why the drug cartels go around unarmed.

I don't know a lot about drug cartels. I'm going to guess that's 50% penis-substitute, 50% fear of rival gangs/la policia. You don't go into the presence of a military commandant or police captain with a firearm, FFS. Not if you're trying to deal with him.

[Al B. Sure!]

Wiki says Batista was under a U.S. arms embargo for much of the war, so his tanks and aircraft were falling apart and couldn't be repaired. It's not like I know a lot about the Cuban Revolution, but that's what it says.

Elok,

The United States supplied Batista with planes, ships, tanks, and the latest technology such as napalm which were used in his battle against the insurgency.[21] However, in March 1958, the U. S. announced it would stop selling arms to the Cuban government.[35] Soon after, the U.S. imposed an arms embargo and recalled their ambassador, further weakening the government's position,[36] although land owners and others who benefited from the regime continued to support Batista.[14]

Batista was deposed in January 1959. So his US weapons were in disrepair after 9 months?

[Asher]

Probably?

[The Mad Monk]

No.

[The Mad Monk]

I don't know a lot about drug cartels. I'm going to guess that's 50% penis-substitute, 50% fear of rival gangs/la policia. You don't go into the presence of a military commandant or police captain with a firearm, FFS. Not if you're trying to deal with him.

Now you're just grasping.

[Elok]

Hey, all I know is, Wiki says "An arms embargo - imposed on the Cuban government by the United States government on March 14, 1958 - caused increasing problems for the Batista forces. The Cuban air force rapidly deteriorated: it could not repair its airplanes without importing parts from the United States."

TMM--come to think of it, where were you talking about getting "explosives and other materiel" from in the first place? If you're talking military-grade equipment, any guard it's going to be under will be pretty formidable. It'd be far simpler to subvert.

[Elok]

Now you're just grasping.

No, it's just kinda really ****ing stupid to try and break into a fortified depot with volunteers toting rifles and shotguns. Drug cartels are armed because they are criminals working within society, not trying to overthrow anyone. Their enemies are policemen, rival gangs and people they want to intimidate. Also, the guns they're using? Probably not the kind you can get at Wal-Mart. Certainly not with a working-class budget.

[Al B. Sure!]

Elok, you do realize that weapons are stolen from US Military bases on US soil all the time, right?


And I don't see why the Cuban Revolution can't be considered a successful revolution by people with limited weapons against a nation's military. Castro and a few hundred men armed with next to nothing took over an entire country with a military armed with tanks and aircraft.

[The Mad Monk]

Hey, all I know is, Wiki says "An arms embargo - imposed on the Cuban government by the United States government on March 14, 1958 - caused increasing problems for the Batista forces. The Cuban air force rapidly deteriorated: it could not repair its airplanes without importing parts from the United States."

TMM--come to think of it, where were you talking about getting "explosives and other materiel" from in the first place? If you're talking military-grade equipment, any guard it's going to be under will be pretty formidable. It'd be far simpler to subvert.

Actually, fertilizer, electrical and plumbing hardware, tools and other supplies to start. Why start with a suicide run at an armory?

[Asher]

Elok, you do realize that weapons are stolen from US Military bases on US soil all the time, right?

Who would be surprised that he military is inept at defense?

[The Mad Monk]

No, it's just kinda really ****ing stupid to try and break into a fortified depot with volunteers toting rifles and shotguns. Drug cartels are armed because they are criminals working within society, not trying to overthrow anyone. Their enemies are policemen, rival gangs and people they want to intimidate. Also, the guns they're using? Probably not the kind you can get at Wal-Mart. Certainly not with a working-class budget.

Now you're getting hot and you're leaping to conclusions you shouldn't. Relax.