Reply #198: In a situation like you describe, the police would have the openly identified ...

[MedicalAdmin]

weapons noted, tracked and dealt with first. In fact, in a situation like Oakland, they would have a sniper or 2 ready with rubber bullets if it even looked like Mr. AK was drawing or readying his weapon. They would be the first targeted.

While I think bringing an obvious assault weapon like an AK is a mistake for messaging reasons, to worry about it should shit happen initiated by the police is not reasonable. It could be argued that by presenting themselves as targets they are making the rest of the protestors safer.

However i think what some worry about is not someone like me carrying but rather some unstable toting bagger or christofascist with an attitude, an ax to grind, a martyr complex, and an itchy trigger finger. However, by participating in a protest I think one must accept that one is placing oneself in danger already.

Bottom line, either the 99% means something or it is a meaningless slogan. If they are there and you have an issue then call a GA and hash it out. We have more in common that the neocon culture has attempted to make us think. Yes even me and my dumbass ignorant teabag brother in law. If nothing else we both love his kids. Start with that commonality and go from there.