We Can Not Fear Free and Open Debate

My family and I were shocked and saddened when we learned of the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, her staff and constituents. Gabrielle is a hard worker, a talented legislator and a genuinely dear person. She is universally liked in the House and every member who served with her feels deeply for her, her family and all those involved. We are praying for her recovery, the recovery of all those injured and comfort for the families of the fallen.

This attack was an unspeakable act of violence and those responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of state and federal law.

Yesterday, House officials informed Members that there was no evidence of a wider threat to Members or the public and ordered a full security review for members and staff going forward.

Planned legislative activity will be postponed in lieu of more appropriate resolutions on the floor.

Having made a longstanding practice of holding town hall meetings, we are determined to continue our public schedule without interruption and will follow the recommendation of US Capitol police and local law enforcement to ensure the safety of the public and our staff at future events.

A word or two of admonition.

First, we cannot fear free assembly because of the acts of a single assailant. We live in an open society and enjoy representative democracy. Our system depends on regular and informal contact with our elected representatives. Neither the public nor public servants should be dissuaded from participating in public assembly because of the despicable acts of one deranged person.

Lastly, we cannot fear free and open debate. Democracy depends on heavy doses of civility and I have always sought to model that in my public remarks.

We should always refrain from engaging in personal verbal attacks against those with whom we differ on important questions of the day. But we must also resist the temptation to assign blame to those with whom we differ for the acts of others. No expressed opinion, liberal or conservative, was to blame for Saturday’s attack and we must resist efforts to suggest otherwise because to do so has the potential to inhibit freedom.

President Kennedy said, ‘A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.’

We cannot fail to be moved by the tragic events in Arizona. We must not fail to pray for all those affected. And we will not fail to defend our freedom lest it be one more victim of the Arizona tragedy