Hoyer Writes to Sergeant-at-Arms About Capitol Safety After Cawthorn Caught with Gun at Airport a Second Time

Alex Edelman/Getty Images

Home Majority Chief Steny Hoyer wrote to the Home Sergeant-at-Palms on Wednesday about gun possession in the Capitol. The Maryland Democrat indicated he is considering “doubtful or ambiguous” rules surrounding firearms in and across the building.

Hoyer even invoked a up to date incident by which Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) used to be caught with a handgun at a safety checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas World Airport. It wasn’t the freshman congressman’s first time, both. He was once busted in February 2021 with a firearm at Asheville Regional Airport.

“I want to thank you for persevering with to keep me and different Participants up to date on progress being made to verify the safety of all who serve, work, and consult with right here as neatly to make gun security rules improved and clearer,” Hoyer wrote to Sergeant-at-Fingers William Walker. “To that end, I write to ask that you just share with me your view on how the safety of the Capitol complex may also be better and, specifically, the question of whether the Capitol Advanced ought to be made a completely gun-free zone, outdoor of Capitol Police and other authorized regulation enforcement.”

Hoyer mentioned that some individuals are under the affect that “they’ve a proper to hold private firearms in these spaces, together with committee rooms the place they’re engaged in committee business.”

The majority chief then introduced up the Cawthorn incident, although he did not point out him via name.

“In mild of the nerve-racking news that a Member used to be detained by using police for a second time the previous day at the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, after once more looking to carry a loaded firearm onto a industrial flight, it is crucial that we’ve got a transparent and unambiguous policy in location regarding gun security within the Capitol Complex and grounds,” he wrote. “This matter issues the safety and health of each person who serves in Congress, who works in the legislative department, who visits his or her representative’s administrative center, who excursions the historical U.S. Capitol, and who stands defend right here as part of the Capitol Police or other legislation enforcement company.”

Safety on the Capitol was an important issue after the Jan. 6 insurrection, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the constructing in an try and stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

The post Hoyer Writes to Sergeant-at-Fingers About Capitol Safety After Cawthorn Caught with Gun at Airport a 2d Time first appeared on Mediaite.