Millions of Angry, Armed Americans Stand Ready to Seize Power If Trump Loses in 2024

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

Mike "Wompus" Nieznany is a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran who walks with a cane from the combat wounds he received during his service. That disability doesn't keep Nieznany from making a living selling custom motorcycle luggage racks from his home in Gainesville, Georgia. Neither will it slow him down when it's time to visit Washington, D.C.—heavily armed and ready to do his part in overthrowing the U.S. government.

Millions of fellow would-be insurrectionists will be there, too, Nieznany says, "a ticking time-bomb" targeting the Capitol. "There are lots of fully armed people wondering what's happening to this country," he says. "Are we going to let Biden keep destroying it? Or do we need to get rid of him? We're only going to take so much before we fight back." The 2024 election, he adds, may well be the trigger.

Nieznany is no loner. His political comments on the social-media site Quora received 44,000 views in the first two weeks of November and more than 4 million overall. He is one of many rank-and-file Republicans who own guns and in recent months have talked openly of the need to take down—by force if necessary—a federal government they see as illegitimate, overreaching and corrosive to American freedom.

The phenomenon goes well beyond the growth of militias, which have been a feature of American life at least since the Ku Klux Klan rose to power after the Civil War. Groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, which took part in the January 6th riot at the Capitol and may have played organizational roles, have grown in membership. Law enforcement has long tracked and often infiltrated these groups. What Nieznany represents is something else entirely: a much larger and more diffuse movement of more-or-less ordinary people, stoked by misinformation, knitted together by social media and well-armed. In 2020, 17 million Americans bought 40 million guns and in 2021 were on track to add another 20 million. If historical trends hold, the buyers will be overwhelmingly white, Republican and southern or rural.

https://www.newsweek.com/2021/12/31/millions-angry-armed-americans-stand-ready-seize-power-if-trump-loses-2024-1660953.html

Many evangelical churches in red areas of the US are little more than meet-ups for TFG loving fascist militias. DOJ please pay attention.

[Sanity Claws]

1. He's 73 and probably unvaccinated

How many of them will be 6 feet under by 2024?

[dem4decades]

4. I used to think that Trump supporters would just die off, but there's many younger and dangerous.

And those Trump supporters in the military may split off during the next insurrection. This country is fucked.

[Firestorm49]

7. Very good point.

[Amishman]

26. for 20++ years we've been saying that conservatives were an old remnant on the brink of dying off

And here we are, still clawing for every seat.

[dem4decades]

33. The old fiscal type Republicans have died off only to be replaced with violent, racist ones.

we were better off before.

[Lovie777]

2. The rate COVID is going in red states ....

[Knight of the Middle]

23. Bingo

Give 'em Liberty and give 'em Death!

[634-5789]

3. Can't get too worried....

TFG is still losing ground as people realize he's nothing more than a lying grifter. Sure, there's fears od militia types, but there's also the Marines, Army, and military that will put the kibosh on any of their coup plans. Jan. 6 was a reminder how fragile democracy is and people are waking up to that hard fact.

[Ferryboat]

18. The military cannot be counted on

Many are supporters of tfg. The very fact that FOX news is on every tv screen on base is a cause for concern.

[634-5789]

20. Still can't involve myself.

Gotta put the pandemic in the rear view mirror FIRST.

[yaesu]

21. didn't I just read here about Some military officers concern about a divided military if Jan 6

happened again? Seems that they are concerned about some commanders, soldiers backing the flushed turd.

[lpbk2713]

5. At the end of Hitler's reign he relied on old men and boys to protect him.

What ever happened to Hitler?

[Firestorm49]

6. Call me naive, or just plain stupid, but just what are Democrats doing to destroy the country?

Helping people live a better life? Rebuilding infrastructure? Fighting for the right of every American to have a free and fair election? Wanting clean air and water? Wanting to diminish the results of our cowboy mentality with reasonable gun legislation? Putting people back to work in the clean energy sector? I just don’t understand what the lunatic fringe sees as an undermining of America.

Apparently they don’t have the ability to read. They can not grasp the dangers and elimination of nearly all civil rights that come with a dictatorship. So therefore, I deduce it’s just what Hillary said, they’re deplorables, unable to think or read for themselves. Dangerous deplorables.

And that, ladies and gentlemen is what we’re left to deal with as we sadly hear more and more about civil war. If Democrats are guilty of anything, and I hope I’m wrong, it’s of not taking our current situation seriously enough. As AOC said this morning, it’s past the time of being nice. It’s time to put on the gloves and fight hard, just like the other side dies with no remorse.

[essaynnc]

9. Unfortunately...

All they know is what they hear on Faux... Democratically controlled cities are war zones, Nancy eats babies, the squad are jihadists, all Democrats are socialists, Biden is just a puppet for the Kabal, etc., etc. That shit has to be countered!!!!

[Caliman73]

27. Depends on whether you really don't know or are asking rhetorically.

As the other person who responded said, there a an extreme chasm between what Democrats are actually trying to do and what people like Nieznany are hearing that Democrats are doing.

Everything you said was accurate about the activities and intentions of Democratic leaders.

What people like Nieznany are hearing is that Democrats are authoritarian socialist, communist, Satan worshiping, child sex trafficking elitists who are trying to destroy the "White man" and end western civilization. We are fundamentally evil and Joe Biden is a radical leftist, or is weak and being controlled by radical leftists.

If you ask them to explain ANY of the terms they spew, or give any evidence of the actions which they suggest are happening, you will get a rant about "deep state" cover ups, conspiracies of the elite, etc... and no coherent information.

People like this man, have been told that ALL media, except right wing media, is working to keep people asleep so that this cabal of evil people can do away with their way of life.

[Fullduplexxx]

8. The u.s. has the national guard

[Hortensis]

35. It also has roads to close. Most of those millions would have to walk

from suburbs etc into towns and cities (with often different population demographics) to seize government centers, and we can just imagine how that'd go over even if they didn't have to detour through woods, climb fences, and wade creeks only to be stopped farther on. November, too, so a little chilly and wet in much of the nation.

[Mary in S. Carolina]

10. Millions and Millions of Democrats

own guns Mr. Nieznany that are younger, smarter and much more fit than you, you maggot.

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. The Gravy Seals wouldn't last an afternoon against the US Air Force.

And they would have to schedule the insurrection on the weekend, because their boss wouldn’t give them the day off to launch a revolution.

[pecosbob]

12. Have fun storming the castle, boys...don't forget your Depends

[OneGrassRoot]

13. They're ready regardless. If he runs and wins...

I think the likelihood is much greater of widespread violence, encouraged by the same people who encouraged 1/6/21.

[sarcasmo]

14. New York State AG or the Georgia AG are our only hope at stopping Trump. The next steak could work.

[Mosby]

15. Yeah, sure they are.

Newsweek is trash.

[sarisataka]

16. Well that certainly paints a terrifying picture

Of dozens of old men shuffling up the handicapped entrance while hundreds more drive around DC with their left blinker on as they try to find a parking place.

[AndyS]

17. This is something to take seriously.

There are 400,000,000 guns in the US. For the last 10 years or so there have been 15,000,000 more added every year, mostly AR-15 style rifles and semi auto handguns. 40% of households have guns (250,000,000 households x .4 = 100,000,000). Of those 3% own half of those guns (3,000,000). That works out to 66 guns per gun nut. Who are these people, what do they plan with 66 guns each?

On the other hand there are only 6,000,000 guns in the hands of ALL law enforcement AND military.

The military has two things that nullify the numerical advantage: Superior heavy armaments (drones, helicopters, armor) and Command and Control. Even so, if even 1/3 of the gun nuts rise up there's going to be a lot of blood and death. They will not win but the cost of victory will be high.

[roamer65]

19. Liberals own guns, too.

[Elessar Zappa]

22. Millions? No. Most of these people are all talk.

It’s the small percentage like the oathkeepers and other militi groups that the DOJ needs to focus on. They’re capable of creating some havoc if they’re not properly dealt with.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

38. +1

[Hortensis]

40. Yes, and they're outnumbered by those not "talking"

who are not in sympathy with violent uprising. By definition, of course, most would be home and not in the streets fighting for or against either side.

[BannonsLiver]

24. I'll push Mike down a flight of stairs after I've pistol whipped him.

The end for Mike. Better come with more than geezers.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. Millions?

I doubt it's that many.

[Caliman73]

28. Well, think about this.

If just one percent of the adult population believe like this fool, that is abut 2 million people.

I agree that this is being blown out of proportion and hyped to get eyes on a story, but I would not dismiss it out of hand.

[Progressive Jones]

29. Well, I hope these "mlilions" are prepared to die violent deaths. nt

[Blaukraut]

30. And they all seem to think that the rest of us will just stand there and let them

Do they believe that we'll just bow to our new overlords without even a whimper? There a many more of us than of them. Even if most people on our side lack the sense of urgency and anger that is necessary, those who DO pay attention and are just as pissed off STILL outnumber the nuts on the other side.

[Kaleva]

31. Millions? They only manage to get thousands at rallies and protests

Despite millions who voted for Trump and who live within easy driving distance of the Capital, only about 30k from all over the country where in DC on 1/6

[Hortensis]

36. Maybe they could revolt during NFL playoffs and use that crowd

to puff up their claims, in that city anyway. One big playoff game has at very least 3 times any crowd tRump has ever drawn and usually many times as many.

[keep_left]

32. Well, thanks to this moron outing himself...

...all the three-letter agencies know yet another deplorable in need of surveillance.

[SKKY]

34. And there are millions of Veterans, myself included, who stand ready to make sure...

....that doesn't happen. So yea, fuck around and find out.

[Autumn]

37. Sure, If they can get out of their recliner and figure out how to turn off the TV.

Democrats have guns too. Good luck to them. They will fucking need it.

[Hortensis]

39. The Insurrection Act authorizes Biden to use the U.S. military to put down

uprisings, although constitutionality has never been ruled on by SCOTUS.

WaPo:

So where does the Insurrection Act stand in 2020? The statute created three separate authorities:

* The first, codified at 10 U.S.C. § 251, traces all the way back to the 1792 act and allows the president to use troops when requested by the state in which the crisis is taking place.

* The second, codified at 10 U.S.C. § 252, traces to the 1861 act and allows the president to use troops, even without a state request.

* And 10 U.S.C. § 253, derived from the 1871 act, likewise allows the president to send troops when “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy” prevents enforcement of state laws in a manner that deprives residents of that state of their federal constitutional rights.

The statute requires the president to issue a formal proclamation before invoking any of these powers. But once he does, there is no intrinsic limit on how long he can use federal troops to enforce federal law.

The Insurrection Act may not be constitutional. It’s been 28 years since a president last used federal regulars on U.S. soil for domestic law enforcement, when President George H.W. Bush sent troops into Los Angeles amid the Rodney King riots, at the request of Gov. Pete Wilson (R). Invoking the statute has also been unpopular — that’s why President George W. Bush refused to do so without a state request in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

[lindysalsagal]

41. They'll just put stupid signs in their yards

probably will keep changing the dates, even after he's dead. I'm sure they will start a resurrection Qanon.