Instead of a bruising fight this week over the Obama health reform law, House leaders have scrapped scheduled business to deal with the aftermath of Saturday's attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) that left six people dead.
Giffords was still in intensive care in an Arizona hospital, being treated for a gunshot wound to the head. 12 other people are also still recovering from their bullet wounds, an outcome that left members in both parties outraged.
"What kind of coward comes up to an unarmed women with a gun," said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX).
"Still in shock over shooting," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on Twitter, which featured a flurry of immediate reactions from fellow lawmakers all throughout Saturday afternoon.
At 1:45 pm Eastern, I had just popped into the basement room where I keep my work computer for one of my quick weekend checks on the news. The Giffords news broke right then, and I immediately noticed something on my Twitter feed.
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That was Congresswoman Giffords tweeting earlier that day, inviting people to her informal gathering in front of a grocery store in Tucson.
"Words cannot express the pain and sorrow I feel," said Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL).
"Gabrielle Giffords is one of the smartest, most caring members of Congress I know," said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT).
It took only a few hours after the attack for GOP leaders to delay the health reform debate until later this month, "so that we can take necessary actions" regarding those events, said Speaker John Boehner.
"I have also asked that the Sergeant at Arms, U.S. Capitol Police, and FBI conduct an in-depth security overview for members on Wednesday," who also ordered "a bipartisan security briefing for district directors" of Congressional offices.
"For now, it is my recommendation that all Members of the House who can, return to Washington to honor those who have fallen and to receive any necessary security briefings from the U.S. Capitol Police," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).
Only a handful of members have security, mainly those in the leadership, and a few other members who have been subjected to extra personal threats over the years.
It seems hard to believe that is going to change, but we'll see what the reaction is this week from members of Congress.
In terms of personal security, one thing many lawmakers in Congress have working for them is they aren't high profile for the most part.
Yes, their names might be recognized, but most of the current Congress could walk down the street in downtown Washington, D.C. and not be recognized.
One final thought on all of this is about how the media responded on Saturday. Unfortunately, we had a few a news organizations declare the Congresswoman dead, when she wasn't.
Back in 1981 when President Reagan was shot, major news organizations declared White House Press Secretary James Brady dead, but soon after, Brady was said to be alive.
Live on the air, ABC anchor Frank Reynolds bitterly chastised his own news room, demanding an answer.
"Let's get it nailed down somebody," he yelled to the newsroom. "Let's find out!"
That was going through my mind as I went on the air Saturday afternoon.
Instead of a bruising fight this week over the Obama health reform law, House leaders have scrapped scheduled business to deal with the aftermath of Saturday's attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) that left six people dead. Giffords was still in intensive care in an Arizona hospital, being treated for ...