President Trump stunned many conservatives this week, when, during his made-for-TV forum on guns, he scoffed at constitutional barriers to disarming individuals who could be a potential threat. “Take the guns first, go through due process second,” Trump said.

Many conservatives, even those disposed to defending Trump, recoiled at the statement. “Imagine if Barack Obama had said that?” queried Fox’s Tucker Carlson. “Just ignore due process and confiscating guns? Obama would have been denounced as a dictator.”

Though it seems that Trump has backed off from his position following a meeting with the NRA, the episode should be seen as a cautionary tale for conservatives who otherwise cheer on his flouting of norms, and disregard for process, when the target is a group who they loathe.