Ann Althouse's Magical Thinking.

Law Prof (remember that) Ann Althouse frets about guns in the Wisconsin State Capitol. Specifically, the legalization of carry by the common citizen.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is okay with guns in the Capitol and other state buildings.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. How does that square with the image — seared in our brains — of thousands of protesters cramming into the rotunda and winding themselves up into a frenzy of indignation?

My, you could just replace a couple words and you'd have this.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is okay with guns in public streets

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. How does that square with the image — seared in our brains — of thousands of protesters cramming into streets and winding themselves up into a frenzy of indignation?

Hmm, sounds a lot like the concerns the anti's have against CCW. Blood in the Streets! Shootouts over parking spaces! Those evil guns whispering into people's ears.

And, of course, the "magical thinking" that there is something inherently corrupting about a gun that warps's people's minds. We've seen this before.

So why is Althouse only complaining about this location and not that Wisconsinites can legally carry concealed to protests that aren't in governmental buildings?

Why it's like she thinks there's something special, something magical about that location?

Well... she does.

These days, there's nothing to stop a person with criminal intent from going in with a gun, so Van Hollen is implying that it's in fact a safeguard for ordinary citizens to have guns too. He doesn't come out and say that though. Having seen the effect of the rotunda on the human mind, I worry about ordinary citizens in the Capitol with guns.

Emphasis added. Got that? Althouse explicitly states that a specific location will have a detrimental "effect" on the mind of the law-abiding ordinary citizen and put them at greater risk of... what going on a shooting spree? Again, her worry is solely on the law-abiding because she admits that "there's nothing to stop a person with criminal intent".

Yes, there were heated protests in the rotunda, but there was also heated protests on the street. What's the difference?

Ah yes, the rotunda's magic. Well then. Remember, she's a law professor, and her argument here is based on " the effect of the rotunda on the human mind".

At least she's not alone about thinking that certain locations just cause bad juju.

Sigivald asks: "Are Capitol security/police immune to the Magical Effect Of The Rotunda?"

I'm sure they have special metal liners for their hats that keep the voices of their guns and the rotunda out of their brains.

And for added deliciousness, the while Capitol environment gets ordinary citizens too hot and bothered to handle their guns, it's just peachy for politicians to legislate inside building.