The party out of power always wants arms until they get power.
The "Mr CFA" was in jest, aside from obviously pointing out that the group fighting against access to similar treatment for people different than themselves were headed for the "hate" end of extreme. The whole CFA saga was a publicity play, maybe not as he had planned, but he said what he did to further his business and get business from the near-bigots. Instead, he got the anti-gay marriage people AND the "free speech" people (because some idiot politicians decided it was ok to use his speech for denial of rights.) And it's not ok to stick your head up, say something hateful, then say "oh, we want to stay out of politics" once you get your lines out the door. I have no vested interest in gay marriage except I think people should be treated fairly by the government, including the ability to select with whom you will spend your dying moments. Just imagine if the law did not permit you to visit your spouse of long standing while he/she was in the hospital, or you were not permitted to hold joint property, or get group health coverage for you both through your employer.
As for gun-free protests, I think it makes sense to disarm when you are going somewhere intending to upset people or even intending to make them angry. It's not exactly self defense when you get what you ask for. But that's probably just the city slicker in me, forgetting that an armed society is a polite society.
