In Wake Of Shooting, Two Members Of Congress Now Saying Theyll Go Armed

Shuler Planning to be Armed in Wake of Arizona Congresswoman Shooting
Several lawmakers are already changing their security arrangements in wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), and at least two lawmakers say they’ll now be packing Firearms in public when they’re in their home districts. Both Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) both told Politico they will be carrying their guns in their home districts for protection. Both lawmakers hold a conceal and carry permit, but will not carry their weapons in the Dis...

In wake of Arizona rampage, two lawmakers say they will carry firearms in home states
Source: myfoxorlando (NewsCore) - In the wake of Saturday’s deadly shooting rampage in Arizona that left a congresswoman critically injured, two lawmakers said they would begin carrying guns with them in their home states, Politico reported Sunday. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), both of whom hold conceal and carry permits, said they would carry their Firearms with them when they appear in public in their home districts. The lawmakers said they would not carry the guns w...

Congressmen Say They Will Carry Firearms in Their Home Districts
Several lawmakers are already changing their security arrangements in wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), and at least two lawmakers say they’ll now be packing Firearms in public when they’re in their home districts. Both Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) told Politico they will be carrying their guns in their home districts for protection. Both lawmakers hold a conceal and carry permit, but will not carry their weapons in the Dis...

Department of Homeland Security advises members of Congress on dealing with `active shooter'
This report was written by Stewart Powell of the Washington bureau. In the wake of the mass casualty shooting in Tucson that killed six and wounded 14 including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., the Department of Homeland Security is distributing guidance to members of Congress on how to respond to an "active shooter." Official photo Rep. Gabrielle Giffords The 13-page primer urges lawmakers and congressional Staffers to be alert to surroundings, aware of the two nearest exits ...

2 Reps. Say They'll Now Carry Guns In Their Home Districts
In the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 19 others in Arizona this weekend, Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) say that they will carry Firearms when in their home districts. "You never think something like this will happen, but then it does," Shuler told Politico "After the Elections, I let my guard down. Now I know I need to have [my gun] on me. We're going to need to do a much better job of with security at these events." According to Politico, each...

Reconsidering congressional security
RECONSIDERING CONGRESSIONAL SECURITY.... After Saturday's events in Tucson, it's understandable for members of Congress to take a fresh look at their security arrangements. I can only hope they resist the urge to go overboard. While representatives of the United States Capitol Police and the office of the House sergeant-at-arms told lawmakers that the attack on Ms. Giffords was not part of a wider threat, they are urging them to review their security arrangements, make contact with local law e...

Two Lawmakers Now Say Theyll Carry Guns
Jason Chavetz (R-Utah) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) tell Politico they’ll now carry guns in their home districts. Shuler (pictured), who received a serious Death Threat in 2009, says he is planning to carry his weapon more often and boost security at his district events. He’s even encouraging his Staffers to get their own conceal to carry permits. “You never think something like this will happen, but then it does,” Shuler said “After the Elections, I let my guard down. N...

Two Lawmakers Say They'll Be Armed
Several lawmakers are already changing their security arrangements in wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), and at least two lawmakers say they'll now be packing Firearms in public when they're in their home districts. Both Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) told Politico they will be carrying their guns in their home districts for protection. Both lawmakers hold a conceal and carry permit, but will not carry their weapons in the District of Columbia. ...

In Wake of Giffords Shooting, Congress on High Alert but Intent to Carry On
Shaken by this weekend's shooting rampage in Arizona that critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killed six people and wounded 13 others, Congress was on high alert Monday morning. Some representatives canceled events and others, including Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), said that they would carry Firearms for protection. Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.) told Politics Daily that he would introduce Legislation Wednesday making it a federal crime for a person to use language...

Two lawmakers say they'll carry guns
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Two U.S. House members say they will carry guns while visiting their districts after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Heath Shuler, D-N.C., who both hold conceal and carry permits, told Politico they would not carry the weapons in the District of Columbia. GALLERY: The aftermath of the Rep. Giffords shooting Members of Congress get some protection from the U.S. Capitol Police, but many travel only with unarmed Staffers and ...

Appropriator: Too early to talk increase for Capitol Police in wake of shooting
Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), the incoming head of the House Appropriations subcommittee on the legislative branch and a member of Congress with influence on the Budget of the Capitol Police, said Monday it is too early to say whether he would support any Budget increases for security in light of the weekend shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). Each Appropriations subcommittee has been tasked by GOP leaders to find places to make deep cuts to spending, and Crenshaw is looking for red...

Your Congressman May Start Packing Heat
Two Congressmen with conceal and carry permits will now be packing Firearms when in their district. Can you blame them? The Politico reported:Several lawmakers are already changing their security arrangements in wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), and at least two lawmakers say they’ll now be packing Firearms in public when they’re in their home districts. Both Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) told POLITICO they will be carrying their...

Media Matters new gay rights initiative names staffer
Trevor Thomas, director of communications for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, is joining Equality Matters, a Gay Rights and advocacy offshoot of the liberal group Media Matters. Thomas has been named Director of Programs for the new group. The move comes as Media Matters grows and expands beyond media criticism into more direct advocacy. In October, Media Matters president David Brock told Politico that the group was slowly expanding beyond its traditional role, as it collected 15,000 si...

L.I. Rep. To Introduce Gun Legislation In House
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (FILE-Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Long Island Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, one of the strongest gun-control advocates on Capitol Hill, said she has been offered federal protection in the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting that left Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life. McCarthy said the FBI and Capitol Police asked her if she wanted body guards in light of shootings. The congresswoman said her first instinct was to reject it, ...

Lawmaker Urges Ban on Clips Linked to Shooting
Monday, January 10, 2011 By David Espo, Associated Press Washington (AP) - A longtime Senate Gun Control advocate announced plans Monday to introduce Legislation banning high-capacity ammunition clips like the one linked to a weekend shooting that left six dead and an Arizona congresswoman gravely wounded. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said he would introduce the measure to re-establish a prohibition that lapsed in 2004 on clips that feed more than 10 rounds at a time. "The only reason to ...

Three Steps to a More Civil Congress?
Third Way, the Centrist Democratic group, sent a letter to Congressional leaders on Monday outlining some suggestions to help promote civility in Congress and perhaps help moderate the nation’s overall political discourse. The letter was in response to the shooting rampage in Arizona over the weekend that killed six people, and gravely wounded Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who is an honorary chairwoman of Third Way. The proposed steps include mixed, Bipartisan seating in the House cham...

Utahs Chaffetz says hell carry his gun
US House Representative Jason Chaffetz-R, Utah says he plans to take advantage of his Concealed Weapons permit, and will carry his gun more often. He made the decision following the weekend shooting in Tucson that critically injured Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords-D, killed six and injured 13 others. Representative Giffords was shot in the head, but is reportedly "holding her own." Chaffetz says he has a Glock 23 and has carried the gun in Utah but has yet to do so in Washington DC. Ho...

Gabrielle Giffords' shooting leads lawmakers to carry weapons
WASHINGTON - Two lawmakers said Sunday they'll pack heat back home after the deadly attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The decision by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) raises new questions about whether lawmakers should carry guns for self defense - or need to. "After the Elections, I let my guard down," Shuler, an ex-NFL player, told Politico. "Now I know I need to have [my gun] on me." Shuler and Chaffetz won't be the first lawmakers to be strapped. The U.S. Marsh...

Congressional leaders promise members security review after shooting
WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Democrats and Republicans participated in a rare Bipartisan Conference Call Sunday to discuss the condition of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as well as security concerns for members of Congress. Republican and Democratic leaders, the chief of the United States Capitol Police, a doctor from the Office of the Attending Physician of Congress, and the Chief of Staff to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords briefed about 800 lawmakers, their spouses and top aides. "I've been in Congress 22 year...

Giffords Shooting Leads Two Lawmakers to Carry Guns
BY James Gordon Meek DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON - Two lawmakers said Sunday they'll pack heat back home after the deadly attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The decision by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) raises new questions about whether lawmakers should carry guns for self defense - or need to. [Photo Gallery: Gabrielle Giffords Shooting in Arizona.] "After the Elections, I let my guard down," Shuler, an ex-NFL player, told Politico. "...

Words Have Consequences
While this may not have any direct relation to Knoxville or the state of Tennessee, the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will certainly affect the entire nation. The people of Arizona, and the nation, are all deeply saddened by this horrible act of senseless violence. This terrible act demonstrates that words have consequences. Many individuals, some of them elected officials, have called for acts of violence or at least insinuated such actions. Many have demanded that “it is time to wa...

Helpful Gun Group Has Solution: Force Gun Training On Congress!
If David Frum explanations for shootings aren’t dumb enough for you, the Arizona Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group, has written up Legislation to end Assassination attempts directed at legislators: make “members of Congress and people who work for them” from Arizona undergo “Firearms training, using firearms confiscated by the state.” Sounds like fun! Thank God the fine assault weapons owners of Arizona have found a way to let crazed 22-year-olds shoot at ...

Colorado Senator Staffers Threatened
(Wall Street Journal) - A Colorado man is scheduled for his first court appearance Monday afternoon on charges of threatening to attack the staff of Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, The Wall Street Journal reported. John Troy Davis, 44, was arrested Friday after allegedly threatening the senator's Denver staff in repeated phone calls over several weeks as he sought help obtaining Social Security benefits. During one such conversation, on Thursday, he allegedly said he "may go to Terrorism" and to...

Man Arrested for Threatening Senator's Staff
Just two days after the shooting of a U.S. congresswoman, a man was arrested by the FBI, in coordination with the Capitol Police, in Denver, Colo, for threatening to shoot the staff of Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. The two incidents are not related, but the alleged shooter, John Troy Davis, according to the Criminal Complaint filed in U.S. District Court, told one of the aides that he "killed that woman," possibly referring to Cong. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was not killed but critically w...

Judges Purpose in Seeing Giffords Could Be Legally Significant
Was U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll just being sociable when he dropped by an appearance by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in Tucson on Saturday, or was he planning to discuss official business? Does it even matter, given the horror of that morning? Yes, it could matter, legally speaking. At first glance, Roll’s state of mind might appear irrelevant, given the tragedy that unfolded on Saturday morning, when Roll was shot dead and Giffords gravely wounded in a rampage that killed ...