Earlier this week, we wrote that Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) was planning to introduce legislation allowing the 535 members of Congress to carry guns in the Capitol, on the House floor and throughout the District.

In an interview with CBS News today, Gohmert delved into the issue further, specifying that his proposal had less to do with fears over another Tucson-type shooting and more to do with his own worries of being accosted in the District by common criminals. “The main issue is being able to carry in the criminal capital of our country, our nation’s capital,” he said.

Gohmert also showed exemplary disdain for the District’s ability to govern itself, calling the city’s gun laws “draconian.” “We need to step in,” he added. “It’s a federal enclave, it will not usurp any state’s rights, and we have the right to legislate within the District of Columbia.”

Yes, Gohmert does have the right. But that doesn’t mean that it is right for you to use it. The more Gohmert talks about the District as a testing ground for any law he’d love to see implemented, the more he’ll piss off the very people that would have to live with the consequences of that law. I’ll give Gohmert this — he might be right. Maybe the District does need concealed weapons to help lower the crime rate. But instead of just imposing the idea upon 600,000 people because he’s afraid of our top notch criminals, why doesn’t Gohmert talk to them about it? Hell, he’s supposed to represent us, right? Rep. Gohmert: how about you just go through the motions of democracy, if only to make any of us feel like we have a say?

In moments of national tragedy, we apparently don’t need to keep Gohmert away from guns — but rather the ability to legislate.