Packing heat at town hall protests

I listened to this entire diavlog where the discussion was primarily on folks that bring guns to the town hall protests. Michelle Goldberg was adamant that this should not be happening and that the main point of those bringing guns to these events is for intimidation. Megan McArdle did not approve of people open carrying at these events either but did not see it as an "evil" thing. Neither person could come up with a "legitimate" reason for someone to have a gun at one of these protests.

If it helps them any, I have one. To date, only anti-health care protesters have been accosted (by union thugs no less). I could imagine that some of these anti-health care protesters are carrying at these events for self-defence.

As to Michelle's point that people just don't take guns to events, I beg to differ. There are a multitude of people that have carry permits that carry all the time. Just because you don't see it, does not mean that there are not guns there.

Megan also had Michelle on the ropes when she pointed out that there is at least one documented case of a liberal carrying a gun at one of these events and that gave Michelle great pause.