09/19/2024

Scarred by Violence, Lawmakers Plan for Possible ‘Mass Casualty’ Event

Congress must continue to govern in the aftermath of mass violence

Imagine the unthinkable: A mass shooting of members of Congress that leaves a large swath of the country unrepresented and shifts the balance of political power in Washington.

In the current political environment, such an outbreak of violence is not as unthinkable as it used to be, according to a bipartisan collection of House members. The attempted assassination of members at a congressional baseball team practice in 2017, the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a dramatic spike in threats against members and, most recently, a possible second assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump highlight the need for Congress to ensure it can continue to govern in the aftermath of mass violence, they said.

To address such a scenario, these four House members — two Republicans and two Democrats — are pushing an unlikely solution: a constitutional amendment that would allow members to be replaced quickly in the event of a mass-casualty event.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.