>>13
What if the gun owning populace supports the tyrant? What of liberty then?
Sure, armed population keeps the government from doing things "too ridiculous", but then they just take baby steps. They won't outright destroy civil liberties, but they will restrict them and contort over long periods of time. Until eventually totalitarianism isn't seen as "ridiculous".
Gun rights don't protect against tyrants, only unpopular ones. To believe that most gun owners will protect liberty is to make a grave mistake.