Guns (& Other Weapons) Should Be Banned From Protests

(Photo of armed racists attending the Charlottesville protests is from KBZK.com.)

At the hate-based protests in Charlottesville last weekend, one person was killed and many more wounded. The weapon used by the racist/nazi was a car, but it could easily been another weapon. Members of the racist right showed up armed with guns. What if one of these nuts had become angry and used his assault weapon? Many more could have died or been seriously injured.

We know that these demonstrations and protests inflame the passions of participants -- especially when counter-demonstrators show up. And when passions are inflamed, stupid people can act in a stupid way. That brings me to my question -- Why do we allow protesters to carry weapons? Isn't this just an invitation to disaster?

Right-wing haters will say they need the weapons to defend themselves. That is bullshit. It is not the job of right-wing militias to protect demonstrators -- that is what we pay our police to do. The First Amendment guarantees the right of people to PEACEABLY protest -- not the right to carry weapons and instigate trouble and violence.

They will also tell you they are just exercising their Second Amendment rights. More bullshit. The Second Amendment guarantees to right to own and bear firearms -- but it does not guarantee the right to carry those weapons into every place. The Supreme Court has determined that cities and states can legally and constitutionally restrict the places where a person can carry a gun. And it only makes sense, for the safety of the public, that guns should be restricted from being carried to protests and demonstrations.

I wouldn't stop there. No weapons of any kind should be allowed in protests or demonstrations (including knives, swords, machetes, pipes, baseball bats, clubs, or anything else can can be used to kill or maim people).

No permit for a demonstration should be issued without including a provision banning all weapons. And anyone who shows up with a weapon should be arrested and have his weapon confiscated. And that weapon should not be returned (but destroyed by the police) since by showing up with a weapon he/she has demonstrated they are too stupid to own that weapon.

Allowing guns (and other weapons) at protests and demonstrations is just asking for trouble, and it will result in people losing their lives. Let's put an end to it before that happens.