NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Most members of the U.S. House and Senate were nowhere near Washington when a gunman went to the homes of two Minnesota state lawmakers, killing two people and wounding two others.
And that’s exactly what rattled U.S. representatives and senators. They, too, weren’t in Washington. They were home for the weekend.
Police accuse Vance Boelter of killing Democratic state Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter is also accused of shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
All at their homes.
And that’s exactly what rattled U.S. senators and representatives. They weren’t in Washington.
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was fatally shot early Saturday. (Glen Stubb via Getty)
MINNESOTA LAWMAKER HAPPENED TO BE ON VACATION WHEN MASKED SUSPECT KNOCKED ON DOOR
“Minnesota was jarring because (the suspect) went after family,” said one House member who has faced threats and asked for anonymity. “We’re gone 50 percent of the time. There are no lines anymore.”
Congress lives in the era of doxxing. People sending pizzas to their houses – a not-so-subtle way of saying, “I know where you live.” Swatting.
It freaks the lawmakers out. But what shakes the members to the core is when a threat is directed at their families. Maybe a message is sent to the school where their children attend. Looming over the Minnesota massacre is the 2017 Congressional baseball practice shooting, which nearly killed House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Then there’s the 2011 near-assassination of former Reps. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and Ron Barber, D-Ariz.
“We need to be proactive on our own,” said one lawmaker to Fox who asked they not be identified. “Not reactive.”
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., canceled a town hall meeting with constituents this week after what went down in Minnesota.
“After being made aware that my name was on a list connected to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota, my…
