Heath Shuler, the Democratic congressman from North Carolina’s mountainous 11th district, says he’ll start carrying a handgun at future campaign events for self-defense. Good for him, so long as he doesn’t restrict the right to bear arms for the rest of us:

Shuler, who obtained a concealed carry permit after his life was threatened in 2009, is one of two House members (the other was Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, of Utah) who told Politico newspaper they would carry handguns more often. The story was picked up by numerous national publications.

?You never think something like this will happen, then it does,? Shuler, of Waynesville, told Politico of the shooting that left Giffords in critical condition. ?After the elections, I let my guard down. Now I know I need to have (my gun) on me.?

It’s almost worth it just to see the liberal blogosphere go into convulsions over this.