Congressmen should be able to carry guns: Fmr. Rep. DeLay
Former Rep. Tom Delay (R-Texas) on his experience during the 1998 Capitol Hill shooting and whether congressmen should be allowed to carry concealed weapons.
Former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) reflected on his experience with a gunman in 1998 at the U.S. Capitol, in the wake of the shooting at a GOP baseball practice Wednesday morning.
“When the first shot went off, of course stupid me, I ran out of my office to see what was going on and there were a lot of my staff in the halls and in their offices that could have been shot just as easily,” he told FOX Business’ David Asman, regarding the 1998 shooting incident where a gunman killed two Capitol Police officers before being wounded in DeLay’s office and taken into custody.
“I know what I learned in my incidents, I started carrying a gun. Even though I had security, I got a concealed carry license and I started carrying a gun. I bought a gun that could use my securities bullets. So I had a gun on me for the rest of my career,” DeLay added.
The former Texas congressman, who served as House majority leader, believes lawmakers should be allowed to arm themselves.
“I think congressmen can carry a gun and they don’t need to worry about standards. A congressman cannot be arrested when he’s doing his job. There’s plenty of laws that allow you to carry, particularly if you are at risk. A lot of judges carry guns so we need to think about that,” he said.