We think Boebert or one of the other fascists in Congress are going to pull out a gun and shoot democrats at some point. And they may. But they can do a lot of damage just keeping everyone off-balance about IF they're going to do that.

They don't have to actually have a gun to set off a metal detector and walk right past the cops. You can do that with a kitchen spoon. Giving your opponents the impression you're prepared to deploy lethal violence changes their behavior - that can BE the win you want.

So this is not merely about whether Cawthorne or Boebert or Hawley is strapped. Them having a gun or pretending to is really about escalation, and the question is what response to that escalation is effective.

Do they want to shoot democrats? Yes. Do they want to provoke democrats into an escalation they can use for political or legal advantage? Also yes.

So how do you deal with a colleague you are legally obliged to be in the same room with who MIGHT shoot you but also might pull out a metal kitchen spoon and say "LOL trolled you lib, cry moar!" if you call their bluff?