An editorial in The New York Times, August 18, 2017, after the Charlottesville violence, questions the viability of open carry at political demonstrations. Armed self-appointed militias in military garb are showing up ostensibly to enforce law and order but act as a major force of intimidation of peaceful protestors. “These strutting vigilantes have become such a threatening presence that government should rein them in to allow for a truly free exchange of ideas. State and federal laws would seem to allow their curtailment, provided that political leaders and the courts face up to the risks of mob rule,” writes The Editorial Board.
Noah Feldman in BloombergView, August 18, 2017, provides a thoughtful commentary on free speech and public protests and includes a comment on guns, “The presence of legal guns at otherwise legal marches makes the difficulty of policing much greater. Still, laws permitting open carry don’t legalize intimidation by arms. They also don’t allow the organization of military groups, like armed militia. It’s one thing to walk down the street carrying a gun. It’s another to move in military formation as part of a maneuver to control space or to intimidate.”
After seeing the display of guns at the Charlottesville demonstration, the American Civil Liberties Union, that has been defending the free speech rights of the far right, announced they will no longer defend groups who insist on demonstrating while carrying firearms. (Common Dreams, August 18, 2017, by Jessica Corbett)