You're Not My Emperor -- I Didn't Vote For You

Yesterday, a 32-year-old man walked into the lobby of the governor's office wearing a tuxedo, waving a gun, and saying, "I am the emperor, and I'm here to take over the government."

His claim, of course, was unclear. He may have been the Emperor of Huerfano County, perhaps. If so, it's puzzling that he didn't wear the traditional sash. But he did have a gun, a demonstration of imperial entitlement that unfortunately gets you shot in certain contexts.

Three or four times and to death, as the case happened to be.

Crisis averted, yes? But now out come the political pit dogs to gnash their teeth over another gun control battleground. Most of the legislators, though, seem reluctant to make any hasty augmentations to security, seeing that it was an isolated incident. Also, security personnel successfully responded on the scene, so one might ask, What's the need for adjustment? After all, there's only one thing more infuriating than a weapons-restricted city building (Grrr! Grrrrr!), and that's a metal detector.

"It’s the people’s house," said Democratic State Rep. Randy Fischer, "and I hate to see the people excluded. (Metal detectors are) just another deterrent to people wanting to come in and see their government.”

Indeed. Heat-packing monarch notwithstanding.