Arming Members of Congress

[Storebought]

Most congressmen before 1860 came to Congress well braced. I think it's a tradition that should be revived.

[Storebought]

What changed in 1860?

Many of the most weaponized congressmen--southern and western Democrats--refused to stay in Washington when Lincoln was elected (not even inaugurated).

And after then, all the assassinations (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley) in short order sort of killed the impulse to revive the tradition at the end of the 19th century.

[Storebought]

It would certainly make debate more interesting, that's for sure.

Hey, I came up with a new idea on how to break a filibuster...

Throughout history (among the nations that held elective office, that is), legislators entered their chambers armed--Roman Senate, Jacobian Parliament, Swiss forest cantons, etc. Not so much because they wanted to kill their opposition, but because, as oath-bearers, legislators were expected to defend their words with their very own blood.

Could you imagine the gravity of senate debates if the senators knew that, at any moment, they could face Eternity with every memo passed during their congressional briefings?