Louisiana Congressional Delegation Reacts To Shooting Of Steve Scalise

Metairie Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise is recovering from a gunshot wound to the hip, as he underwent surgery this morning. Scalise was shot at the practice for the Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Va. US Senator John Kennedy says he wishes he understood why bad things happen to good people. He says he feels sad and mad that something like this happened.

“There are reports the shooting was politically based, that it had to do with the membership on the political party. I hope that is not true. If it is true, we’ve sunk to a new low in America,” Kennedy said.

The shooter has been identified as 66-year-old James Hodgkinson of Illinois, and it’s been reported he has ties to several anti-Republican online groups. Two police officers and a congressional aide were also wounded in the shooting. St. Landry Parish Congressman Clay Higgins says he is hopeful his colleague will make a full and speedy recovery.

“Steve’s a tough guy. I could think of a whole lot of men that are far less tough. Steve is a tough guy. So I have great confidence that he’ll recover,” Higgins said.

President Trump confirmed the suspect has died as a result of his injuries. Higgins says although he would have liked for him to be prosecuted, that’s just fine with him. He is thankful the security detail responded as quickly and effectively as they did.

“It should be noted that this act of violence was overcome by superior violence. They didn’t hug the bad man to the ground. They shot him down, as it should be,” Higgins said.

Higgins says it’s certainly not business as usual in Washington, as all meetings have been cancelled and everyone is on high alert. Rayville Congressman Ralph Abraham says it’s a sad day in American that we’ve gotten to this point. He says we have to get passed the divisiveness and the hate in this country.

“We’ve got to return to some civility, some discourse, and some dialogue and solve these problems the way that they’re meant to be solved, not with violence for sure,” Abraham said.