MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The consequences of the Charlie Kirk assassination could include seeing state and federal politicians in parades or at your local fair or festival.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said the forward-facing portion of her work as a senator is currently under review. As a result, outside events with large crowds could become a thing of the past for elected officials.
“I probably can’t go on parades,” Capito said Tuesday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “So no Forest Festival Parade, no Black Walnut Festival Parade, and a lot of these are parades I’ve participated in for years and love all across the state.”
The dialogue has become so heated and emotional that many people are unable to separate the rhetoric from the issues being debated. Much of the political language has become dominated with volatile speech that causes some to act in anger or out of what they feel to be desperation.
“We’ve got to tone the rhetoric down on both sides,” Capito said. “There’s no room for political violence in this country.”
Many other politicians and public figures are also taking stock of how exposed they are or could be in a public setting. Voters would no longer have the opportunity to interact with elected leaders in an informal setting—an important part of making a connection with voters.
“I would honestly think twice,” Capito said. “I think anybody who is a public figure is going to think more than twice about the kind of exposure events present.”
Capito said for more than 200 years the United States has been known as a place for open debate and expression of thought, but a new justification of the use of violence looks more like a third-world country. But America has had moments in the past, and they have always brought us together, not torn us apart.
“That’s what we’re known for; we’re known for debate, and we’re known for pulling together when we need to,” Capito said. “This is where we need to go, and maybe this is a rallying call for all of us.”
Lawmakers will have to find a way to approve a series of bills to fund federal government operations by the end of the month. Capito said one provision included in the debate is additional funding for enhanced security for members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“So, if they hold this up, they’re basically saying that providing extra security for members of the House and Senate is not a high priority,” Capito said. “I think in these difficulties I would say it is a high priority.”