Dave Brat: Security at town halls likely to be ‘ramped up’

Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) said security at congressional town halls is likely to be ramped up, following the early Wednesday morning shooting that injured several at the Republicans’ practice for the annual congressional baseball game.

“We’ve got to do a little bit better planning. Immediately it brings town halls to mind too,” Brat told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

“You’ve got 1,000 folks, people that want to give you their views as constituents, etc., but the security thing now is going to be ramped up to a new level. If it takes just one person that’s just off the rails on a certain day, it’s just not good.” 

{mosads}Lawmakers, particularly Republicans, have faced rowdy town halls in recent months as the GOP works on its plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

Brat’s comments came a few hours after House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and several others were shot at a field in Alexandria, Va., early Wednesday morning, one day ahead of the bipartisan baseball game set to take place Thursday at Nationals Park.

Scalise is undergoing surgery in a Washington hospital. A staffer for Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) and two Capitol Police officers were also shot. 

Expressing concerns about security, Brat said, “It’s unfortunate, but that’s the world right now.”

The congressman also spoke of the bipartisan support from Democratic colleagues in the wake of the shooting.

“We all do get along well. And the Democrats were our brothers today,” Brat said. “And everybody was shocked and concerned and we were just watching it unfold together.”