Brady Plans Legislation To Outlaw Threatening Language Against Federal Officials
In the wake of the weekend assassination attempt on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, CNN reports that U.S. Rep. Bob Brady plans to introduce legislation that would make it a federal crime to use language or symbols that could be perceived as inciting violence against federal officials.
Brady Plans Legislation To Outlaw Threatening Language Against Federal Officials
Catherine Lucey
In the wake of the weekend assassination attempt on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, CNN reports that U.S. Rep. Bob Brady plans to introduce legislation that would make it a federal crime to use language or symbols that could be perceived as inciting violence against federal officials.
According to CNN, Philadelphia's Brady was angered by an internet posting by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin during the fall election season that showed a map of 20 Congressional districts marked with what looked like bulls eye symbols. Giffords' district was among those targeted.
The map has been taken offline.
"You can't put bulls eyes or crosshairs on a United States congressman or a federal official," Brady said. "I understand this web site that had it on there is no longer in existence. Someone is feeling a little guilty."
To read the full CNN report, click here.
Of course, the bigger legislative debate today is over gun laws. A total of 19 people were shot, six of them fatally, in the Saturday shooting spree in Tucson, AZ. The 22-year-old gunman legally purchased the semiautomatic weapon used in the shooting, according to the Washington Post. The Post reported today that Arizona's laws are among the most lax in the nation.
On NBC's "Meet the Press" today, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, also an Arizona Democrat, called for an examination of gun laws and how firearms become available.
But Republican lawmakers have said that lenient gun laws were not to blame for the attack.
Let the typical lib response begin. Focused on things rather than the nut job. Never fails.— tiger
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Focusing on changing things is what liberals do, and do effectively. Republicans are so focused on being angry about things that don't matter that they lose focus on governing when they hold office. Republicans are just failures.— HandNik- Bob Brady is an embarrassment.— Kaiser Sosa
- Republican lawmakers may say that lenient gun laws in Arizona and other states are not to blame for the attack on Rep. Giffords, but they sure helped this cuckoo clock get a semi-automatic weapon.— MISNU
Threatening speech didn't kill or injure anyone, Congressman.- Comment removed.
- If "perceived as inciting violence" is broadly defined, this proposed legislation will be another piece of incumbent protection.— lbphilly
- Does anyone remember in 2003 when John Street's office was bugged - it was Congressman Brady who was screaming it was done by "white Republicans" and kept up with this type race against race pitting?
Then, in a 2008 Phila Mag interview when asked about this statement, he stated he was "just spinning the sh_t" because he was afraid Street was going to lose! He is part of that "excrement" and now wants protection, from himself!— phillygrlinfl - I support Congressman Brady's proposed legislation. The government should wage war against vitriolic speech and they should especially target right-wing talk show hosts. It will be an uphill battle in the GOP-dominated house, but we can whup them if we fight hard enough. We must attack inflammatory language wherever it appears.— Masuccio
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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