Midwest lawmakers react to Arizona shooting

Shocked legislators across the midwest denounced the shooting spree in Tuscon,  Ariz. that left their colleague U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)  wounded and an Arizona chief federal judge dead.

“Violence like this is always shocking and horrific,” Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin) said in a statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “In this case, it’s particularly of concern that congresswoman Giffords was doing just what voters ask her to do - talk with and learn from her constituents. We cannot let one person’s heinous acts inhibit contact with our constituents, fulfilling the bedrock of our democracy.”

“This kind of senseless and brutish violence has no place in our society,” said Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Ashland). “Although I have only been a member of Congress for a short time, I had the pleasure of meeting congresswoman Giffords on the floor last week and found her to be kind, charming and a committed public servant.”

“There is no debate about violent imagery,” U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. “Some people have gone way over the line and they need to tone it down.”

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was sworn into office under increased security, while legislators in others questioned what can be done to reduce the necessity for it.

“In the book of Wisdom, it is said that the souls of the just are at the hand of God and no torment will ever touch them,” Quinn said, the Chicago Tribune reported. “We need to end the violence, and end the silence about the violence.”

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) told the The Cleveland Plain Dealer she has no plans to change how she interacts with her constituents, including increased security.

“Security? Never,” Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat, said emphatically on Sunday. “If we learn how to behave ourselves as a republic, we shouldn’t need it.”

Kaptur, the longest-serving congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives, became a mentor to Giffords when she was elected to Congress in 2007. Kaptur said she would often walk with Giffords and talk about incidents that occurred during the health-care reform debate.

“We won’t be modifying our schedule in any way,” Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) told Indianapolis’ Channel 6 News. “I admire the fact that Gabby was out, she was with her constituents. It’s just heartbreaking that this kind of tragedy took place.”

Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing) reflected back to last year when he was the target of death threats and verbal attacks.

“We have deplorable e-mail that comes in, and I think it’s a coward way of displaying your thoughts, and in many cases your ignorance, about respect for each other,” Gleason told ABC News 12.

“I think it’s time to reflect that elected officials, in the final analysis, are just everyday people,” Gleason said.

Others who worked closely with Giffords offered their condolences to her family and the families of the others who were wounded or killed.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to my colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, members of her staff and her constituents who were the victims of a shooting in Tucson, Arizona,” said Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township), WYBR reported.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) said “tears are flowing” at the news of her friend and colleague’s injury, according to WDAZ 8.

The Associated Press reported police have arrested Jared Lee Loughner, 22, a Tucson native, as the alleged gunman.