Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., said the prospect of being shot was something that all members of Congress live with, and the concerns have become heightened in recent years.
“All of us are vulnerable. We’re all public servants. If someone wants to target us, it can happen,” the lawmaker said in reaction to the news that Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the House majority whip, and at least one other, a Capitiol Hill police officer, were shot by a gunman while at a baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., with other GOP lawmakers.
“It’s something we live with everyday,” Bishop told the Washington Examiner. “Ever since [former Arizona] Congresswoman [Gabby] Giffords was shot [in 2011] we have had extra security measures. It’s fortunate too. Whenever there are a certain number of Congress members in one place security must be there as well. Scalise being in the leadership meant there had to be extra.”
Bishop said he was nevertheless “shocked” by the news and his “heart and prayers” went out to the victims.
He noted that the shooting happened about a 15-minute drive from Capitol Hill, about the same distance from where Democrats hold their practices.
