If you are an American, and if your country becomes comparable to Syria and ISIS, then you are not fighting for your freedom; you have failed in defending your freedom (and your country as you know it).

All but the most oppressive government doesn't lightly kill its citizens. It instead sets up a propaganda campaign, paints an image of dangerous dissidents, and tell the common people to fear them and join the good (that is, the government's) side. And you know what: rifles works "perfectly" in that framework. If I were a covert agent in a dictatorship and if I had no conscience, I'd propose letting a few individuals get away with their rifles, and the government can go a merry chase to protect "public safety" while associating everyone who wants a better government with those "terrorists".