By: centraljersey.com
Even though U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12, NJ) was shaken and shocked by the shooting Saturday in Arizona that saw one of his colleagues critically injured he continued public appearances this week.
"(The shooting) was no more in my mind than it was before (Saturday)," Holt said in a telephone interview Monday. "I didn’t think about it much, but I did think about Gabby."
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-8, AZ) was critically wounded Saturday morning at a Tucson grocery store parking lot when 22-year-old Jared Loughner allegedly opened fire on her and others gathered for a "Congress on Your Corner" event, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department press release.
Five people in the crowd, including 9-year-old Christina Green and federal judge John Roll, 63, were killed and an additional 14 people injured as a result of the shooting before Mr. Loughner was subdued by attendees, according to the release.
"It hit me hard on several levels," Mr. Holt said. "She is a personal friend and we do this all the time."
Mr. Holt, who joined a telephone conference with hundreds of other congressional members and other officials to talk about the incident Sunday, said he is concerned about what the ramifications could mean for members to be accessible to their constituents.
"There are negative implications about our ability to govern ourselves," Mr. Holt said. "If the public is fearful to meet (openly) with their representatives, I don’t think our government will work too well."
Mr. Holt said that in the wake of the shootings, other members have said they may carry guns when they return to their home districts for these kinds of events, which may not be a good thing to do.
Rather, Mr. Holt said, the shooting should make us take stock of how we discuss our political ideas and who we allow to have weapons in society.
"This (incident) should make us look at our gun safety laws and toning down the vitriolic rhetoric,""Mr. Holt said. "I am troubled by some who have tried to dismiss this as ‘one crazy guy.’"
According to Mr. Holt, a bipartisan meeting on congressional security was scheduled for yesterday to address this particular event, but he has held staff meetings "from time to time" relating to security.
Mr. Holt, who went ahead with two public appearances scheduled for Monday in West Windsor and Franklin, said he would continue to be available to the people in the 12th district.
"I don’t know any other way to do my job," Mr. Holt said.

