I never served in the military, but my dad taught marksmanship in the Army, so I was introduced to firearms early (and properly). I don't understand the logic of owning small arms to defend oneself against the federal government, much less start a revolution against it.

You may be able to hold them off for a few more hours or days, but you should know better than I that it would be a futile effort against the armor, helicopters, and drones that could be unleashed to take you out. I suppose you could go out in a blaze of glory, but I don't think our laws (or lack of them) should be tailored to help you do that.

I am also retired (disabled) Viet Nam era veteran and anyone who thinks a bunch of loose cannons are giving our military any cause for caution has a real problem. Talk about mental illness; all the veterans that have A PTSD should not be allowed to own a gun! Serve your country, get a disability and lose your right to own a weapon. Sounds reasonable to me.

Retired military here. On my lifetime never, I repeat I never saw the government afraid of a poorly ruled militia or an ignorant armed civilian population. My honest take.

a good start is with the ACA. Prior to the ACA Mental Health Services were simply unavailable for the highest risk segments of our population. Family abuse /spouse abuse is another red flag.

Gotta do something.

Being retired military, do you actually think that an armed civilian rabble would have a chance against the U.S. Military?

Armed civilians are nothing for s trained military that has been convinced that the only truth is what the "president" says. The only thing that keeps the government halfway balanced is a free and trusted press, which is why tyrants attack the press first.