Carlson& #39;s justification of the Kenosha shooting gestated in the womb of right wing gun politics for years. Militias insinuated themselves into the GOP and tacticool guys replaced the Tea Party& #39;s historical reenactors as the face of far right street protest https://www.thetrace.org/2017/08/right-wing-militias-actively-supporting-pro-trump-politicians/">https://www.thetrace.org/2017/08/r...
The Oath Keepers have recruited on the promise of armed confrontations with left wing demonstrators https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/08/23/oath-keepers-announce-national-%E2%80%98spartan%E2%80%99-training-program-aimed-%E2%80%98violent-left%E2%80%99">https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch...
Localities have some legal recourse if they want to reduce the threat posed by guns at protests. Since Unite The Right, Georgetown Law prof Mary McCord has proselytized about state laws states that restrict "parading" with guns or paramilitary training https://www.thetrace.org/2018/09/armed-militias-right-wing-extremism-state-laws/">https://www.thetrace.org/2018/09/a...
But few jurisdictions actually exercise these obscure constitutional provisions to prevent people from bringing guns to protests in the first place https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/12/paramilitary-groups-anti-private-army-laws.html">https://slate.com/news-and-...
And the laws are targeted more at organized groups. Militias have played a central role in Kenosha but it& #39;s not clear if Rittenhouse was actually in one. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/08/26/kyle-rittenhouse-charged-kenosha-protest-shootings-militia/5634532002/">https://www.jsonline.com/story/new...
Towns in 36 states will have a much harder time barring individuals showing up to protests with guns, thanks to a combination of permissive open and concealed carry standards, and preemption laws that bar localities from regulating guns https://www.thetrace.org/2017/09/35-states-local-officials-cant-ban-guns-protests/">https://www.thetrace.org/2017/09/3...