Question

When is it appropriate to take up "arms" against your own government?

Answer 1

:  “…whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends [to secure the Rights of the People to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness... when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”

That is from the Declaration of Independence