On Sunday, lawmakers grappled with the shocking incident involving two Democratic state legislators from Minnesota who were shot in their homes, resulting in the death of one legislator and her spouse. This incident has stirred fears about the once unimaginable need for constant security for elected officials to shield them from potential dangers.
“While I don’t want to imagine needing a personal security detail at all times, it’s crucial to assess the current environment we’re facing,” stated Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith on NBC News. “Our government cannot function effectively when any of us feel threatened like this.”
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s other U.S. Senator, openly discussed the growing hostility surrounding political life as she paid tribute to state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who lost her life in the tragic event.
“These are real people, and before you start ascribing motives or going after them online maybe you should think about Melissa Hortman’s life,” Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on CNN. “This is a person that did everything for the right reasons. Regardless of political parties, look at her face before you send out your next post.”
The attack that killed Hortman, her husband Mark and gravely wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife was a nightmare scenario for the thousands of Americans who serve as legislators across the 50 states and in Washington. They routinely attend public events with little or no security screening and live with their families in communities torn by the nation’s political divides.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was caught late Sunday.
The attacks amid a recent flurry of political violence that appears to be coming from all ideological corners.
U.S. Capitol Police increased security for Klobuchar and Smith following the attacks, which occurred early Saturday morning. Minnesota’s entire congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, released a joint statement condemning the killings.
“Today we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants,” the statement said. “There is no place in our democracy for politically-motivated violence.”
“Nothing brings us together more than, you know, mourning for somebody else who’s in political life,” GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on NBC. “Republican or Democrats. You know, we come together about this.”
Paul said that he himself had been the victim of political violence when he was attacked by a neighbor in 2017, as well as at the Republican practice for the Congressional baseball game where a gunman severely injured several people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
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Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed reporting.
