Arizona Lawmakers React To D.C. Shooting

Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 3:24pm
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Following Wednesday morning's shooting at a congressional baseball practice outside Washington D.C., several Arizona lawmakers discussed their reactions to today’s assault, which injured one of their own.

Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema was working out with congressional colleagues House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy shortly after the shooting when, she said, "All of a sudden a couple of security guys came in started talking to speaker Ryan and a couple minutes later, some officers came in to speak to Mr. McCarthy and that’s when we knew something wasn’t quite right."

Sinema says she was shocked and immediately thought about her former colleague Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

"So I absolutely was remembering the moments of where I was that day in January in 2011," said Sinema. "And I felt as horrified as I did then."

Giffords for her part issued a statement via Twitter saying, “This is an attack on all who serve and all who participate in our democracy.”

Other Arizona lawmakers talked about threats received, security and civility, or the lack thereof.

"We have these young interns who are quitting because they’re going home almost crying at night with some of the threats they’re getting," Congressman David Schweikert said. "These are just kids answering the phone."

Schweikert describes the mood on Capitol Hill today as “dour.”

"I have a 20-month-old little girl. And I love bringing her with me, cause I’m home so rarely with this job, so when you’re home, you like to take her to your meetings and take her to events. And my wife and I this morning were having a conversation of that probably needs to end," he said.

As for what will happen next, Congressman Raul Grijalva was cautious.

"Once again we’re confronted with the chance to rise above it and do something that will in fact reduce the harsh and shrill rhetoric that’s associated our debates with something that’s more profound and civil, but we’ll see," Grijalva said.

Republican Congressman Steve Scalise was shot, along with members of the Capitol Police, a congressional aide and a lobbyist. The shooter in the attack was shot and killed.

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