Tensions in lawmakers are high this week after a Republican lawmaker nearly brought a gun to the floor of the House, raising further concerns about the safety of the Capitol and whether members of Congress should be protected from each other.
The renewed anxiety just two weeks after the deadly attack on January 6 was by Rep. Andy Harris
Andrew (Andy) Peter Harris An Attack on America Divided across Congress – and a Nation. Here are the Republicans of the House who voted to accuse Trump of ‘I saw my life flash before my eyes’: an oral history of the Capitol attack MORE (R-Md.) When he had a newly installed metal detector fired from the house floor with a concealed rifle, despite a years-long ban on firearms in the room.
The incident follows numerous reports from other Republicans, who are accustomed to bypassing metal detectors in the Capitol while contesting the new security measures. Some Democrats now openly state that they do not feel safe with certain colleagues.
The offensive anger and mistrust in the aftermath of this month’s attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters has made some lawmakers fear that heated debates could turn violent.
“Look, the temperature is politically high at the moment,” Rep. Jared Huffman
Jared William Huffman Capture of Capitol attack penetrates to high security inauguration Trust in lawmakers reaches its lowest point after Capitol riots OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Capitol in Chaos | Trump’s Arctic Refugee Drilling Sales Earn Only a Fraction of IDP’s Forecast | EPA finds that fuel efficiency has dropped, and pollution more for 2019 vehicles (D-Calif.) Told The Hill. ‘It’s insane to rely on a first system that can make something tragic happen. And I would say it’s just a matter of time before that happens. ”
Rep. Kathleen Rice
Confidence among lawmakers reaches daily lows after riots over Capitol Trump’s call in Georgia lead to debate over criminal justice lawyers in Georgia’s district say she will apply ‘the law without fear or favor’ after Trump’s call MORE (DN.Y.) said she would never see violence erupt on the floor during the debate when she first started serving in the House in 2015.
“You can not be afraid that the person you are arguing with a bit with C-SPAN on the floor is going to pull a gun and shoot you,” Rice said.
“If you told me that six years ago, I would say, ‘Whoever’s afraid of it is crazy. That would never happen. ‘Well? Sorry. All bets are off. It’s a very different climate. Completely different climate. And we have to admit it. ”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Ocasio-Cortez says lawmakers fear colleagues are sneaking firearms onto the floor of the home. Ocasio-Cortez spent inauguration night supporting striking workers in New York Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden was more inaugurated. (DN.Y.) – who revealed that she had a ‘close meeting’ on January 6, expressed concern about security because she did not attend President Biden’s inauguration and during an interview on CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time ‘said that’ we are not yet feeling safe around other members of Congress. ”
The metal detectors were installed last week after first-term GOP representatives Lauren Boebert (Colo.) And Madison Cawthorn (NC) publicly discussed carrying their weapons around Capitol Hill. Both were also among several House Republicans who engaged in inflammatory rhetoric that promoted the former President Trump
Donald Trump McCarthy says he to rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said he did not agree with her accusations against Biden Biden. Trudeau agrees to meet next month. Trump plans to oust acting AGM to reverse Georgia election results: MORE reports‘s false allegations of election fraud before the Capitol attack that left five people dead.
Lawmakers have occasionally resorted to violence in the past during floor debates. Many of the physical disputes erupted during the fighting over slavery in the 1800s, including the infamous caning of abolition senator Charles Sumner in 1856 and a debate on the house floor in 1858 that led to fist blows between Republican Galusha Grow and South Carolina Democrat Laurence Keitt of Pennsylvania before more than thirty lawmakers declared war.
Earlier this month, a fight almost broke out between lawmakers – including Harris – during late-night debates over a GOP challenge to the election college outcome, hours after the pro-Trump mob looted the Capitol.
No sanctions are currently in place for lawmakers who set aside Capitol police as they drive on the house floor. But the House is expected to vote to impose fines – $ 5,000 for a first offense, $ 10,000 for a subsequent one – when it is in session again during the first week of February.
Congressmen were exempted from regulations banning guns at the Capitol site and until last week from metal detectors in the complex.
Lawmakers can keep guns in their offices or drop them off and wrap them securely elsewhere in the Capitol complex under a 1967 rule. But they are forbidden to bring them to the House or Senate Chambers or adjoining areas.
All staff, journalists and visitors must meanwhile go through metal detectors to enter the Capitol or surrounding office buildings and may not carry firearms anywhere on the premises unless specifically authorized.
Harris’ office has suggested that the rifle carried by the Republic of Maryland for self-defense is said to have recently faced security threats to him and his family.
“Because she and his family’s lives are threatened by people awaiting trial, for security reasons, the Member of Congress never confirms whether he or anyone else with whom he carries a firearm for self-defense. As a matter of public record, he has a Maryland Handgun Permit. And the Congressman always complies with the house metal detectors and wanderings. The congressman has never carried a firearm on the floor of the house, ‘Harris’ office said in a statement.
Lawmakers in both parties have seen an increase in threats against them since 2016. Some believe that the biggest threat to lawmakers comes from extremists who also threaten family members.
“I think more of the threat is honestly less about the members and more about others who are like the lawless thugs who attacked the Capitol and these domestic terrorist groups that obviously led to us having 20,000 National Guard around the Capitol,” he said. Rep. Josh Gottheimer
Joshua (Josh) GottheimerGOP Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair says he will vote in favor of 000 checks House passes massive spending deal, vote Senate, McConnell gets much of what he wants in emerging emergency deal MORE (DN.J.).
The New Jersey Democrat is distributing a letter calling for increased security costs for members ‘offices, regular information from Capitol security officials, and efforts to keep members’ personal information off the Internet.
It is not clear how long the National Guard troops will stay at the Capitol complex or when the 8-meter-long fence will be removed.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump indictment begins week February 8. Democrats move 14th amendment to ban Trump from office Biden indicates he is prepared to postpone Trump trial MORE (R-Ky.) Said Friday that “protecting the Capitol may not and will not require large numbers of uniformed troops and large systems of emergency fences to remain forever.”
Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott Murphy Democrats fly 14th amendment to prevent Trump from office Senate disapproves of Biden’s nominated Pentagon candidate. Democrats fire McConnell’s filibuster gambit MORE (Conn.), The top Democrat in the Senate Credit subcommittee overseeing the funding of the legislative branch, rejected the idea of installing magnetometers to enter the upper chamber.
“Our members so far seem much more responsible for the safety of the building,” Murphy said.
Meanwhile, some House Democrats, led by Huffman and Rice, say the magnetometers outside the House should become permanent, in addition to ending the arms exemption for lawmakers.
Both acknowledged that it may also be time for legislators to go through metal detectors while, like everyone else, going through office buildings in the Capitol complex.
“Treat members just like every other member of the public who enters the Capitol,” Huffman said. “You can not have a system of honor with dishonest people who think the rules do not apply to them.”