it was a dry run. if you look at the column of ex army rangers proceeding single file up the steps, you see a very well trained militia. they didn't bring guns because the invasion of the capitol was a propaganda / psychological operation. to show marginal and sympathetic right wingers that this was all real, and happening, and to elicit a response from the government.

guns would have upped the ante on the core organizers and resulted in their decimation at the hands of local federal forces. This was just the beginning. from the angry anti government comments in this thread, their effort looks to be succeeding.

These people worship trump. If they thought what they did could work why would they show their hand in purposefully ineffectual manner? Any evidence it was planned just as a way to demonstrate what they are capable of. I’ve seen zero reporting on your theory.

I can find records of a single ex ranger, but not a whole column. Can you help me find that documentation?

I believe they are referencing this: https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Jason%2...

Page 12.

A key point that many people seem to miss. A band of unhinged, bloodthirsty right wingers, staged a preempted coup, targeting politicians, and did not bring the guns that they're famous for amassing? Clearly this was not what it's being made out to be. Never let a crisis go to waste I suppose...

But did enter the Capitol building with hand held weapons, body armor, zip ties to subdue people, and were heard talking about locating members of Congress. Enough with the disingenuousness.

But no guns. Why would they plan a violent insurrection/coup without guns? Moreover, the "handheld weapons" consisted largely of sticks and flagpoles, with some bearspray...you know, things you'd bring to a riot? And zipties were found on one or two participants.

The only disingenuousness here is the attempt to manufacture an insurrection out of a riot.

> Why would they plan a violent insurrection/coup without guns?

To minimize the chances they got shot at by police (only 1 person was). They wanted to overturn the election, not die.

But just in case they needed it, this group had an armed backup force waiting at a hotel in VA:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/quick-reac...

Several of the insurrectionists did have guns. The protest began peacefully, and turned violent following Trump's speech, where he urged the crowd to "fight like hell". These people aren't normal like you and I. They are extremely impressionable and subject to radicalization. Listen to the Channel 5 interview with the QAnon Shaman on YouTube. Does that strike you as someone that is capable of functioning in civil society?

The zip ties were dropped by cops accidentally. They weren’t brought in. Please don’t comment if you are ignorant of the facts.