I taught self defense to families for many years, I always encouraged learning about and owning firearms as first-line items of defense because all the eye-gouging and groin-kicks in the world won't help if someone enters your home with a gun.

I am not a gun-nut. I believe we need stricter laws and required training to own the things, but that isn't going to happen so the least you can do is make sure you're not the one without a force multiplier.

I have recently been telling trans people very bluntly and directly that they need to arm up. I get a lot of pushback, a lot of it is very "online" in nature and performative, and a lot of trans girls have a hard time reconciling it with their ideas of femininity, but I am telling you all now, they may come for you. You are literally in danger in the USA. Maybe not now, but very possibly in the near future.

The only thing that will keep a fascist administration from going door-to-door to black-bag undesirables is if every home visit is a potential stand-off and bloodbath. Yes, it may come to that. It's sad and shitty that they have put you in this position, but you have to become part of the meat-grinder, not a name that disappears off lists and census surveys.