Security guards seized the cameras and cell phones of several Democrats at a “town hall” meeting featuring Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) Monday.

While media organizations were allowed to record the event, a security guard collected recoding devices from certain audience members “to protect the privacy of constituents,” according to a Chabot spokesman.

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ThinkProgress was able to film an iPhone being confiscated from Cincinnati Democrat David Little and a video camera being taken from former Democratic candidate Liz Ping.

“The officer was very nice about it; and we politely and cordially defended our right to record a public official speaking in public in a public building,” Little explained. “What are they afraid of?”

Later in the meeting, Chabot faced jeers from the audience over his vote to defund Planned Parenthood.

Watch this video from ThinkProgress, uploaded Aug. 23, 2011.