In the wake of the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson, Ariz. that targeted a US representative and left six people dead, local lawmakers expressed concern but said the incident will not drastically alter their interactions with constituents.
“Unfortunate as it may be, there are inherent risks associated with being an elected official. You accept the risks when taking the job,” said District 61 Rep. Bruce MacDonald (D-Boothbay) “This was an isolated case involving an unhinged man.”
According to multiple sources, the suspect in the shooting, Jared L. Loughner, 22, of Arizona, is facing federal charges in connection with the Jan. 8 shooting that killed a federal judge and left 14 wounded, including United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords who, according to federal officials, was the intended target.
The violent rampage occurred during a “Congress On Your Corner” meeting in Tucson that was designed to let constituents voice their concerns directly to Giffords, a type of “press the flesh” event that is common both nationally and locally.
In Lincoln County, District 51 Rep. John McKane (R-Newcastle) said he has encountered angry people, typically during his door-to-door campaigning in election years, but he has never been involved in a situation that would warrant a formal security detail.
“This was a criminally insane individual who did this. The incident could have easily happened at a grocery store or at a post office,” said McKane.
Rep. Les Fossel (R-Alna) said the balance between “fears” and “freedom” is a constant concern as an elected official.
“Sometimes we don’t know who is dangerous or just plain angry,” said Fossel.
While the investigation continues into Loughner’s motives, many have pointed to a “dangerous” level of political rhetoric in the country as a possible cause, a suggestion MacDonald says has merit.
“Since the debate on healthcare, Democrats have been targets. There’s a lack of reasoned, fact-based talk in the country right now and a lot of uninformed individuals,” he said.
Two days prior to the election in November, Macdonald says his car was shot multiple times by a pellet gun while in the driveway, causing $1600 worth of damage to his vehicle in a case that remains unsolved.
“Anytime that happens to an elected official it’s open to speculation,” said MacDonald.
On the issue of lax gun control laws, which has been cited as another possible factor in the Arizona incident, Fossel pointed out that Maine has both the second highest rate of gun ownership, per capita, and one of the lowest murder rates.
“That is a compliment to Mainers,” Fossel said. “It doesn’t occur to people here to do something like the mentally disturbed individual did in Arizona.”
When in session, lawmakers are provided little if any protection in the House Chamber said McKane. He pointed to a 2006 incident in which two activists staged a protest by dumping leaflets onto the floor in protest of an issue that was being debated at the time.
“That made me a little nervous; they had chained themselves to a bench,” he said. “I would really like to see more security at the state level. People are supposed to wear nametags but it doesn’t always happen.”
According to Maine Capital Police Chief Russell Gauvin, as of Jan. 11, there has been no formal increase in security following the Arizona shooting. Gauvin said the Capital Police currently maintain a 24 hour presence at all state buildings in Augusta and have equipment in place for individual screening if the need arises. In addition to traditional methods of surveillance, a uniformed officer is assigned to the public entrance of the Capital to check for suspicious behavior or packages.
“It’s constant vigilance. We maintain a registry of people who have threatened elected officials. Fortunately here in Maine most disputes do not escalate to a level of violence,” said Gauvin.
Lincoln County lawmakers’ all say what is ultimately at stake is the ability to do the “people’s business” in an effective and safe manner. Despite the tragedy in Arizona, local representatives are resolute in maintaining a direct line of communication with voters, a valuable tenet said Fossel, of an open and true democracy.
“I don’t have the right to order anyone not to be angry, it’s a protected right,” Fossel said. “In some ways our job is to run toward trouble, not in a physical sense, because if you don’t they’ll chase you anyway.”
