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.

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.