[mireOpekrhype]

I think the answer to the question is highly situational.
If it deters depends on how likely a resistance is thought to emerge by the attacker. In that numerous factors come into play, on the defender´s side (GePap just mentioned one) as well as the attacker´s and the relation between the two. It´s hard to tell if intimidation will work beforehand, or if the armed populace will have sufficient will to resist actively. If picking up the gun will just mean you get shot, as opposed to sit it out, go with it and survive, then the weapons will remain in the shelves (or handed over). If the attacker pretty much shoots anyone at seight anyways, then you can as well pick up the gun (USSR in WW2 comes to mind)... If You have no military otherwise, say, fighting for independence, then an armed and willed populace is your only deterent - if your nation´s military funds make up more than 2/3 of the whole world´s, an armed population doesnt add to deterance at all.

[Edqpdnuu]

Originally posted by Felch


Well, no. America hasn't been invaded in any real sense since the War of 1812. And during that war the armed civilians cooperated with and fought beside the regular army. I guess our second amendment has deterred further aggression.

Really the question is impossible to answer based on historic experience.

There are very few cases of people privately owning firearms in sufficient quantities. Of those cases, some are integrated into the national defense policy, and the other hasn't been invaded for nearly two hundred years. And proving the factors that deter invasion is very difficult.

Besides the countries mentioned, who else has tons of guns? I believe that there are supposed to be somewhere around 100 million firearms privately owned in the United States. If the US were occupied and the people decided to fight back and to Hell with reprisals they could do serious damage to an occupying force. Occupying troops can't stay inside tanks and APCs forever.

Furthermore, I should point out that every American male over the age of 18 is a member of the Unformed Militia of the United States of America.

[Spalax]

You, as in you yourself, are welcome to it.
I'd rather die taking some with me than give in meekly.

[Amirmsheesk]

The problem the Nazi's faced with insurgencies was that obviously fighting those wars was of secondary importance behind fighting the actual allied armies. Had the Germans been able to win the war with the USSR prior to heavy US involvement none of the insurgencies that cropped up against the Nazi's would have had much of a chance, and would have probably ended like the two Warsaw uprisings.

A state willing to use the full might of its military and having sufficient public support or aquiecense can crush an uprising. Just look at the US Civil War.

[vRmy0Fzg]

A state willing to use the full might of its military and having sufficient public support or aquiecense can crush an uprising. Just look at the US Civil War. A better example would be the Gallic Wars.

[DrJonson]

Originally posted by Patroklos


A better example would be the Gallic Wars. Ah, but the Gauls could not organise a truly united uprising. Their internals feuds prevented that. Had the Romans invaded in 200-400 AD however, I'm not sure it would've been quite as easy.

[hiedeemom]

It was invoked in the general sense, not in the specific case.

[MaickiP]

Boris situation isn't determined by natural selection, but sexual selection.

[PaulRyansew]

Originally posted by GePap
Boris situation isn't determined by natural selection, but sexual selection. So you're saying that homosexuality is unnatural?

[MidwestMadman]

Are you playing dumb, or have you somehow misplaced your sense of humor?

[i32I7qyH]

...and so was his, for EXACTLY the same reasons

[Elelaytet]

Are you saying that homosexuality can sometimes be misplaced?

That's a convenient excuse.

"Honestly, I had no idea it ended up there! Thanks for returning it to me. I shall make sure to discipline it harshly when we get back home."

[diegogo]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
Are you saying that homosexuality can sometimes be misplaced? I would think Larry Craig is ample evidence of this.

[ariniaxia]

How did a thread about armed populous and its chances against an invasion come down to homo again? Please explain to me, I demand answers!

[animilius]

Originally posted by Pekka
How did a thread about armed populous and its chances against an invasion come down to homo again? Please explain to me, I demand answers! The thread about Somali pirates stealing tanks became a discussion of Pluto Nash and other terrible movies.

Just kick back, get wasted, and enjoy it.