Things are getting ugly with Antifa.

The group is known to be violent. Riots tend to follow them most places they go. The only thing that typically keeps them in check is the presence of firearms by their opponents. Members of Antifa believe that their ends justify any means they deem necessary.

And it now seems they’re armed.

This was a surreal moment: @SeattlePD officer came up and said I was "inciting conflict" and potential violence just by being there. If my physical presence in a public space makes someone else want to become violent, the problem is not with me. pic.twitter.com/08wM5KXwx0 — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

“I’m known to do this shit for real,” an antifa protester said to me. “Are you willing to die for Youtube shit?…Death is coming to you.” pic.twitter.com/bhK2wWkMBD — Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 2, 2018

Now, don’t get me wrong. If they’re not felons, they have the right to own a firearm. They also have the right to carry that firearm in accordance with the law.

But that doesn’t make it any less tense, now does it?

However, over at The Truth About Guns, John Boch notes:

Of course, Antifa members — like all Americans — have the right to keep and bear arms. But these black-clad masked fascists don’t come out to support their cause. Their goal is to intimidate, shout down and sometimes assault those with whom they disagree. How long before someone on one side or another has a negligent discharge – or an intentional discharge at one of these rallies? I’ve written about how the violent left’s civil war continues to heat up. And how lefties have even formed a so-called Red Army in places. It’s just a matter of time until America’s Civil War 2.0 becomes hot. Inadvertently or not.

I don’t think he’s wrong on this matter.

And I’m sorry, but telling a journalist that his presence was serving to “incite conflict” is troublesome. If the mere act of existing in a given place is enough to incite conflict, we have major problems.

Look, again, they have the same right to own firearms that we do. I’m not comfortable with them having guns, but their rights aren’t predicated on my comfort. But I think we all know that with the group’s history, it’s just a matter of time before they shoot someone.

When that happens, watch out. That’s when things will get ugly.

Now, I get what a lot of you are going to say. You’re going to point out that these guys may have guns, but they don’t know what to do with them. That may well be possible. I’m sure a lot of them are convinced that now that they have guns, they are ready to overthrow the government or whatever, but they don’t know the first thing about fighting with one.

But once bullets start flying, do you really think they won’t figure this stuff out?

Even if they don’t, how many innocent people will die before it ends? Far too many, that’s who. And that’s a best-case scenario.

Either way, this is a troubling escalation in Antifa’s tactics, and it’s one we would all be wise to keep watch. I don’t know that they’re looking to use those weapons, but I do know that they openly embrace violence and it wouldn’t take much for them to justify shooting their opponents.

If you’re going to a protest, you might be well-advised to carry yourself if you can do so legally. (I can’t advise you to carry in opposition to the law, but if you do, I’m not going to blame you either.)