Mich. Delegation Reacts To Shooting
Several members of Michigan's congressional delegation say they are "shocked and horrified" by the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.
Oakland County Democrat Gary Peters worked with Giffords as members of the House Science and Technology Committee.
"She was doing what all of us in Congress strive to do, meet with our constituents so that we can better serve them," Peters said in a statement. "I grieve for the families of those who were killed in this tragic attack, and I pray for the speedy and full recovery of all those who have been injured. I ask all the families of Oakland County to pray for Gabby Giffords, her husband Mark, and the families of those who were killed and injured."
Peters expects his security measures to be looked at closely following this tragic event. "My job is to make sure that I'm accessible to everybody, that everybody has an opportunity to come up and talk, I want to hear people's opinions and their thoughts, and you need to be accessible. So, it is in the back of your mind, we try to be cautious, we try to be very conscious of who is around us." Peters said.
Giffords recently invited Peters to attend an upcoming space shuttle launch. Giffords husband is an astronaut.
Macomb County Republican Candice Miller said she worked closely with Giffords on homeland security issues.
"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 today in Tucson, Arizona," Miller said in a statement. "Our offices are very close together which has given me an opportunity to often walk to votes with her. Gabrielle Giffords is a beautiful person both inside and out and I consider her a friend. I am deeply saddened by this heinous crime. This senseless violence has absolutely no place in our free society."
Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow called Giffords "a courageous and dedicated Congresswoman who engaged with her constituents and listened to their concerns."
"An attack like this threatens the very fabric of our nation, and I condemn this senseless violence," Stabenow said.
