John Boehner: Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Might Not Have Been Prevented By Increased Security

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday that members of Congress will likely step up their security in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords earlier this month, but cautioned that even enhanced security might not have prevented the assassination attempt.

"I think it's also fair to say that even if there had been a protective detail there, we do not believe it would have stopped this particular incident from occurring," he said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

After the shooting on Jan. 8, members of Congress proposed safety measures ranging from a plexiglass barrier over the House floor to additional funding for security for members, which was slashed when the House voted to cut its operating budget by 5 percent.

Boehner said it would be responsible for House members to follow safety suggestions from Capitol Police and the Sargeant of Arms Office, particularly changes that can be implemented without additional government funding.

Even with an enhanced focus on security, though, Boehner said there is some inherent risk to the job.

"We're out in the public. We're talking to our constituents, out talking to the American people," he said. "We have a very open society in America. There is risk with our job."

Comments

[missouriwatcher]

08:21 PM on 02/18/2011

The orange crybaby making excuses again.  Really!  Can all this "man" do is try to hurt people of other political persuasions?  He reminds me of a medieval Medici mindset . . . most certainly a devout follower of Machiavellism.

[cla65]

04:48 PM on 02/08/2011

Come on. You all remember that guy named Abraham Lincoln. The one Obama calls his favorite president ever? He even said if somebody wants you gone bad enough, their is nothing that's going to stop them from doing it. So quit blaming the guns and take a look at the real problem. Society in general. And remember. Over 80% of every political assasination that's ever taken place was perpetrated by a left wing radical. Not a tea party conservative. After all, their has only been a tea party around to blame for a year or so. Who did we blame it on before then? Can I hear a big STRAWMAN please!!! Thank You. I know, I know, facts sometimes get in our way to rationilize, but it is the truth folks. Guns don't kill, people kill!

[missouriwatcher]

08:24 PM on 02/18/2011

I saw a good cartoon in the paper the other day that really drove this home.  There was a snowman driving a pickup truck with a hairdryer hanging in the rear window; on the bumper was a sticker which said, "HAIRDRYERS DON'T KILL SNOWMEN, SNOWMEN KILL SNOWMEN".

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:32 AM on 03/05/2011

sir han sir han was a neo conservitive, jack ruby , conservitive, how about  (RAY) the guy who shot MLK?
When did the clan turn Liberal? Gabie was shot by an ani- tax, anti gun law, anti-goverment ,
dude rejected by the US Army ! in a time the army is allowing wife beaters,and burglers to sign up and give basic trainin a go! Booth was anti federalist (conservitive) the guy who shot garfeild was against goverment standards for labor and testing! The Guy who Shot McKinnley was an Anarcist!,The peaple who tried to kill truman were peurto rican independence! The majority of incidence(including all the lynchings of black activists and vicitms) and the puritains who hung, and stoned and dunked , and burned peaple o death (all over realestate issues) were Neo/con conservitive! and that is why Englund kicked them out of the empire!

[Dunkleberger Karl]

05:06 PM on 02/07/2011

One winter day, in 2006 Mr Rumsfeild flew in by chopper to the AWC in carlise Pa.
He wa late so i went for food ! every dinner (not drive through) had agents dinning!
and strange vehicals , over 100 peaple who did not belong !
So much security for a republican, zero security for the dems , is that how its got 2B?

[RTIII]

09:39 AM on 03/05/2011

Yeah, tell that to cla65, one post younger than yours; he needs to hear it. He's saying that over 80% of such things are perpetrated by the left - HAR! "That's a good one!" Except it's not - not true and not good. ...Thanks for a little data on how it _really_ is.

[maxhnb]

10:17 AM on 02/06/2011

With all the gun owners in Arizona, they either were too gutless or disinterested to use their weapons for anything but shooting innocent people.

[kincaid0329]

09:39 PM on 02/05/2011

If all would have listened to Gabby and believed she was being threatened, maybe just mayber - she wouldn't be where she is today. I hope she can survive enough and remember (SHE TOLD YOU SO), but you ALL OF YOU, where in protecting Palin, Beck and the rest to believe her. The speaker and rest of YOU - could have prevented this (BELIEVED HER).

[Sandee McHale Delano]

09:48 AM on 02/03/2011

Why does this guy always look like he is going to cry? I fear he has some serious mental health or alcohol issues. He just ain't right.

[Sandra Larsen]

11:52 PM on 03/06/2011

I think his alcoholism allows him to rationalize his behavior but deep down he has great remorse for selling us all down the river for a nickel. He can't hide it.
Have you watched 'Lie to me?'

[Glenn Friedman]

07:34 PM on 02/02/2011

The NRA's 'Shoot out at the OK Corral' solution to everything gun related.!!

[Dunkleberger Karl]

05:07 PM on 02/07/2011

Collateral damage , gun controll forgotten in the "Heat of the moment!'

[pseudonymXXVI]

09:03 PM on 02/01/2011

Perhaps. I don't think we should dwell on the what-ifs of the Tuscon tragedy.

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:34 AM on 03/05/2011

alot of words that said little or less ! thank you!

[Geoulio Fransesco]

12:33 PM on 02/01/2011

He's absolutely right. But what he was alluding to but didn't dare say was that more guns don't make anything safer.

[thrugreeneyez]

11:21 AM on 02/01/2011

You know what would have prevented the shooting? If Loughner didn't have access to the gun in the first place! That is a preventative policy that would work! I get so sick of the gun supporters saying the asinine slogan "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." ! In fact countries with strict gun laws and bans DO NOT have these kinds of incidents involving guns! When are we Americans going to wise up and INSIST on reasonable gun control laws?! We cannot allow a few fringe lunatic NRA nutcases who get turned on by owning guns hijack the sensibility of our country!

[Dunkleberger Karl]

05:11 PM on 02/07/2011

We find that the military recruiters are,and have been,required to
 report peaple who fail to have the qualifications
 to be a member of our services! (and I dont mean too fat)4 Years

[At1stBlush]

01:05 AM on 02/01/2011

Ye gads Boehner, what makes it fair to say that a protective detail would have been ineffectual? Is he talking from probability or the top of his sunburned head? Is he willing to let go of his Secret Service protection on the same premise?

[Sandra Larsen]

11:55 PM on 03/06/2011

Yeah, it's part of the job, BOehner! We can't afford protective detail for anyone anymore.

[IATSE MEMBER]

06:11 PM on 01/31/2011

It's really Congresswoman Giffords fault for wanting to be among her Voters... the people who believed in her to Lead? Perhaps half term Palin and "Water Works JB" wouldn't understand that?

[tenzenz]

04:56 PM on 01/31/2011

I would not argue the idea that added security may not have prevented the shooting to begin with, but, I think that if you look at the tape of the shooting, the number of wounded and fatally wounded would have been lower, if the shooter were not able to use a 31 bullet clip. Leave it to Boehner, and all Conservatives to try and avoid the obvious.

[374662]

03:09 PM on 01/31/2011

Or some security people may have died when the shooter went through them to get to her.

[Clevelandinwi]

01:52 PM on 01/31/2011

'may not have'? You are absolutely brilliant, you idiotic fool. For the country's sake, resign. You must realize that you're third in line for the Presidency and that you could not handle the job, so RUN.

[JimInHouston]

04:59 PM on 01/31/2011

"'may not have'? "

Please tell me what was incorrect about this statement.

[Clevelandinwi]

06:28 PM on 01/31/2011

It's called 'stating the obvious' - it's what dumb people do.

[maxhnb]

10:21 AM on 02/06/2011

Can't recall private gun owning citizen drawing his piece and stopping a crime. Only of perpetrating a crime.

Police are for gun control as they know in its absence they are sitting ducks.