Safety precautions urged for Congress members

U.S. Capitol Police Saturday urged all members of Congress to take "reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security" after a gunman opened fire at a constituent event in Tucson, wounding a congresswoman and five others and killing six.

The Capitol Police included the warning in an e-mail to all representatives and senators.

Even before the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, members of Congress were experiencing steady, and growing, criticism. Congress' approval rating is at rock bottom, with 83 percent telling the Gallup Poll in December that they disapprove of its job performance.

But the criticism had never approached direct violence.

The motives of the Arizona gunman remained unclear, and it may not be connected to the broader disenchantment with Congress.

But while Congress through its history has been the brunt of jokes about its competence, some Americans, particularly conservatives and tea-party activists, in recent months have expressed anger that has bordered on hostility. In March, as Congress deliberated on the health care overhaul, several members of the House reported a flood of angry calls about their support for the legislation.

Giffords was among the members reporting abusive calls. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) said he reported one threat to police.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) said Nassau police contacted her Saturday. "For the next few days, they'll probably have a little extra security for me," she said.

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) declined to discuss his own security measures, but said, "I think members of Congress should be concerned, especially if it's going to be a public event."

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southhampton) said the Suffolk Sheriff's Office contacted him Saturday to discuss additional security measures. He said he would meet with them, but has no intention of canceling any public events because of security concerns.

On June 22, 2009, tea-party movement members brought in busloads of protesters to a constituent meeting Bishop was holding, alarming him enough to call for a police escort for his car.

With Tom Incantalupo