The book presents a different reason for the students' protests and it had more to with their opposition to our government than to their own. Carter granting asylum to the Shah (albeit for medical/mercy reasons) was the flashpoint, at least according to the author. Given the track record of US meddling there, I don't think their concerns were unjustified (let alone "idiotic").

That said, I'm in agreement with the main point of your post: never give up your firearms.