[Trav5]

> does it protect the constituion? Or is more likely they become a paramilitary wing of a corrupt government?

Good point, but you are lumping all gun owners into one mindset.

I could definitely see that happening, but it would not be all gun owners, just a percentage. And of the many gun owners I know, the percentage that would support any government and impose anything on others would be really low.

[ethbro]

Guns are necessary but not sufficient. Guns + independent, civil society groups are what make a healthy democracy.

The idea is to back civil society with an implicit, but never used, question of force.

If things break down into shooting, that's civil war. And who knows what happens next, but it's not likely to be good for anyone or the country.

[MiroF]

okay but like which generally happens in countries with are level of development? definitely the paramilitary reality, not the "rise up" against government reality.