This is a “point of order” post because, if memory serves, at least one commenter in the Forum has claimed that firearms were found among the weapons confiscated from those Capitol rioters who were arrested. More generally, however, the idea that the riot was an “insurrection” is turning out to be a farce, a product of overheated imaginations.
Theoretically, if an angry mob of citizens entered the halls of Congress and gave a physical drubbing to every member, that wouldn’t be an insurrection; that would be democracy in action. By the same logic, of course, a military style assault would be democracy in action, too. But surely, smart observers can discern a fundamental difference between the two event types.
Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
Ya know, if I were going to insurrect, I’d bring my gun.
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Apparently some did.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-protest-cases-insight/arrested-capitol-rioters-had-guns-and-bombs-everyday-careers-and-olympic-medals-idUSKBN29J2V8
But lies will rule the day in our conspiracy laden country.
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You’re saying the FBI lied?
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Not to her knowledge she said.
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I’d bring my gun.
Or pipe bombs?
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Since you bring your gun to Olive Garden I’m not sure you count..
And it was only their first Insurrection, they’re not that bright, but they’ll learn…
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“. . . but they’ll learn…”
The arc of Nazi, Fascist and Bolshevik thuggery is a warning. They too started out as comically inept, out-of-touch and feckless and ended up bringing down democracy.
We need to learn from that history. Each and every person who breached the Capitol needs to feel the full weight of the law. No deals. No suspended sentences. No mercy. Let me quote the greatest President in the history of history . . . “Lock them up!”
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Or maybe it wasn’t an insurrection at all. Maybe it was just the passion of the moment that elevated protest to trespassing(for 90% of those involved) on top of a very small number of lunatics who preplanned a criminlal act.
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The insurrectionist acts stand on their own under the law. Whether coldly calculated in advance or motivated by the passion stirred that day by Trump’s speech.
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
I see no mention of “passion.”
Since you are now claiming “passion” as an excuse for 90% of the criminals, it puts Trump in the frame since – according to you – he DID incite and set this insurrection on foot by stirring these passions.
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What I am saying is that it was not an insurrection.
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And I am saying it was. Because, you know, it was. Read the LAW posted above.
And here is the LAW on seditious conspiracy . . .
“If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”
Note the references to seizing any property (check), opposing by force (check), prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law (check).
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Yeah, incompetent insurrection is still insurrection. Arguing otherwise is pointless.
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You mean like incompetent Presidents were still Presidents?
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You take your gun everywhere. Does that mean you are looking to take over the local WAWA?
😇
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“ Theoretically, if an angry mob of citizens entered the halls of Congress and gave a physical drubbing to every member, that wouldn’t be an insurrection; that would be democracy in action.”
Democracy in action? Not when the goal is to overturn the results of a democratic election. That is specifically why the ex-president scheduled a rally on 1/6 and why he said it would be wild and that the mob had to “take back the country” and why it was trial by combat” and why Trump said he would March with them, lied, and went home to watch the attack on TV. Add in the assertion that Pence could overturn the electoral results and because he won’t, go and get him.
That is an attempted autogolpe. Not Democracy in action.
You are trying so hard, along with others right wingers to rewrite history.
Shameful.
Bear spray, spears, clubs, tasers, are considered weapons by any reasonable person. Ron Johnson is full of crap. So is Zerohedge.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/feb/15/ron-johnson/yes-jan-6-capitol-assault-was-armed-insurrection/
“ A police officer said he noticed a bulge on the hip of Christopher Alberts – who was dressed in body armor and carrying a gas mask – as he filed out of the Capitol grounds, according to court records. When they stopped him, they found a loaded handgun.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-protest-cases-insight/arrested-capitol-rioters-had-guns-and-bombs-everyday-careers-and-olympic-medals-idUSKBN29J2V8
It is very important that we never forget why and how and under whose direction Congress was attacked.
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Like I said: “the idea that the riot was an “insurrection” is turning out to be a farce, a product of overheated imaginations.”
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That the assault had one purpose escapes you.
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Surprised?
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“Theoretically, if an angry mob of citizens entered the halls of Congress and gave a physical drubbing to every member, that wouldn’t be an insurrection; that would be democracy in action.”
Theoretically you are an idiot. Theoretically.
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An insurrection is a coordinated planned attack to overturn a sitting government with a plan to install a new one. Kind of like extremist liberals constantly attacking the same people and the constitution in hopes of installing a socialist utopia. A bunch of goof balls rioting to take Facebook photo ops doesn’t qualify. That is why trespassing, disorderly conduct, etc are predominantly what people are being charged with. We all knew this was a phony claim to begin with but it makes for MSM “news” and a left wing talking point.
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We have a legal system to settle disputes. As residents of our country, we agree to abide by the rule of law. After at least a couple of dozen court rulings, appeals to the top courts including SCOTUS, we agree to accept the results and move on.
Except for the ex-president.
He called for a wild rally with the express purpose of overturning the election. When the gangs assaulted Congress it was with the expectation of forcing an illegal act by the ex-VP to do just that. Which means an attempt to keep the ex-president in power and prevent a legally elected, (adjudicated as such multiple times) new administration to assume it’s rightful role.
Now it was through luck and Providence that the frontline of the attackers was limited to a few hundred gang members with some training and lots of weapons and assault gear, traitors really, with hundreds more true “goof balls”. There was no doubt as to the intent and method.
Many of those charged will run up big legal bills and spend years in prison while the ex-president golfs in Palm Beach with $250 million of the supporters cash.
No matter how you parse it, that is the story of the ex-president’s attempt to stay in power illegally and with violence.
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“Goof balls?”
What a joke. Try to imagine what you would be saying if a mob of black people had stormed the Capitol, smashing, stealing, injuring dozens of officers and directly killing at least one. If you can’t imagine what that might be, I can. And it would be very different than “goof balls.”
A key element of our government is the peaceful transition of power. A mob with the clear purpose of stopping that peaceful transfer is a mob of insurrectionists. Your definition of insurrection is irrelevant. Read the law.
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“Goof balls” ?
Bobr or his alt reality comment?
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Wait, black people have already rioted, smashed, looted, burned, attacked police, directly killed numerous police, etc. and it is still happening. Is that insurrection? BTW, it has not been determined if Sicknick was murdered or what. Investigators have not said what he died of and can’t build a case so far.
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A couple of points.
BLM is the largest peaceful protest in our history. Its cause is righteous. It is undeniable that a small number of hooligans used the protest as cover for vandalism and looting. A very small number. But people who get their information from outlets such as Fox News have been lead to believe WRONGLY that (a) the hooliganism was far more significant than it actually was and (b) that such behavior was planned and condoned by the leaders of the BLM protest movement.
Is such hooliganism “insurrection?” No, it isn’t. Insurrection and seditious conspiracy are defined in the law and random acts of vandalism or theft do not meet its criteria. Nor were the hooligans summoned by a political leader to achieve a seditious goal – stopping the lawful counting of votes – through violence and intimidation.
The officer who was killed by the insurrectionists appears to have died as a result of being hit in the face with bear spray. The dozens of other police in the hospital had a variety of injuries including one whose eye was gouged out.
Breaking news : A Trump administration official has been arrested and charged for his role in organizing the insurrection. Exactly what he did and on whose orders is being investigated.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/04/trump-appointee-arrested-for-capitol-riot-473825
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It makes one wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to attack Congress with the intent of forcing the overthrow of the election. I understand that some of the gang members might enjoy beating and killing, but many were sucked into this fantasy without the slightest hesitation, or even knowledge of how things work in a free democratic republic.
When one gets past the BS about “no choice” or “grievances” or even “proven fraud”, you really end up with a child’s mentality. Perhaps someone whose mother never told them that just because Billy plays on the RR bridge, he or she couldn’t. Or everyone gets a trophy, win or lose.
Democracy requires work. Citizens have an obligation to learn how it works, what is needed to keep it going and enough mature patience to accept that compromise is critical.
And, as the Stones sang, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”.
So many of these folks will have more than enough time to reflect on their violent actions and treasonous behavior in prison.
Some legacy from the ex-president.
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Don’t watch FOX news
All visual evidence of BLM doing exactly what I said on a grand scale came from MSM. You know, your guys!! BS on you condoning and making excuses for the insidious acts of BLM and the mobs tearing up entire cities, police stations and federal buildings for a GD year!!!
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I have not condoned or made excuses for any violence by anyone. That is a LIE.
I watch the MSM and that is where I have learned that the vandalism and looting associated with the BLM is the work of very few people and it is not at the direction of the movement. The person to person violence that sometimes occurs is caused by Proud Boy types confronting peaceful protesters. Your hair-on-fire with cities in flames version of this recent history tells me you have been getting your information from somewhere else. You say it is not Fox News. I don’t believe you.
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“A bunch of goof balls rioting to take Facebook photo ops doesn’t qualify”
Didn’t that happen in June when some goof ball wanted to stand in front of a church with someone else’s Bible for a Photo-op?
The idea of overturning the results of a free and fair election is in the purview of insurrection whether you want to believe it or not. Keeping their orange, golden calf in office after he was legally voted out was the plan.
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