As you point out, one of the most loudly proclaimed reasons for gun ownership is to protect one from the government. Somehow gun ownership will deter the "jackboots" from entering one's home and the owner and his family will be safer.

If it comes to that, the gun will be of no help. The badguys will ask you to turn over all your guns, and if you are found with one you will go to prison. Or be shot. And the same goes for your family.

If the government decides to confront you, it will do so with overwhelming force. It may blow up your house first, or barge in at night with a lot of people and weapons.

Look at Iraq. American troops break into civilians residences all the time. And there's at least one AK-47 in each house. The civilians know better than to haul that thing out and point it at someone.

It's a bogus argument. Won't work. When it comes to that, the government will win.