Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Republican House Majority Whip, was shot this morning around 7:15.
Wikimedia Commons / Steve Scalise’s House Webpage

Given all the political hate and vitriol  that has arisen since the election of Donald Trump, the predictable has happened. A Republican political leader has been shot in an attempt on his life.

The Facts

At this early hour,  little is known outside of the bare facts about the assault. Around 7:15 AM ET this morning Rep. Steve Scalise,one of the most powerful men in Washington as the Republican House Whip, was shot while practicing for the annual Congressional baseball game in Alexandria, VA. Other casualties were at least two security aides of Scalise’s and Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX). Apparently Rep. Williams was not shot but was seen removed from the field by stretcher. The shooter was described as a middle-aged white man. He was shot by U.S. Capitol Police acting as a security detail for Scalise, apprehended and taken to a hospital. Rep. Scalise was shot in the hip, but is said to be in stable condition in the hospital. The number of shots fired has been estimated to have been between 50 to 60 on the low end and more than 100 on the high end. A rifle was used, and the attacker was described as moving very methodically from cover to cover.

This attack does seem to have been a well thought out and targeted assault. In practicing for the Congressional baseball game, the Democrats and Republicans practice at different fields. Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who left just before the shooting, told Fox News that as he walked towards his car a white male asked him if it was Republicans or Democrats practicing. About three minutes later, DeSantis said, the attack began. The use of the rifle together with the very large amount of ammunition expended indicates the shooter was out to kill as many people as he could. If Scalise had not had a security detail present, matters could have been much worse. Only Congressional leaders, including Scalise, have such security. Had Scalise not been there, the Republican congressmen would have faced the attacker with no protection whatsoever. Sen. Rand Paul, who was present during the attack, told MSNBC that had the Capitol Police not been there, “it would have been a massacre.” As it was, the Capitol policewoman who took down the shooter was herself seriously wounded, shot in the foot.

The Fallout

The consequences  of this dastardly attack will depend quite a bit on what we learn about the attacker, his motives and associations. Should the attacker be a member of Antifa, or some other violent leftist group, this attack could be the opening shots of an insurgency. The very best case to be hoped for is that the attack is some kind of isolated incident. At the very least, this incident should motivate progressives to tone down their very violent anti-Trump and anti-Republican rhetoric.

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