'Our lives are in danger': Lawmakers cancel events, critique security after Kirk shooting

Source: USA Today

Sept. 12, 2025, 2:41 p.m. ET


WASHINGTON – Charlie Kirk's assassination has left members of Congress in a state of fear for their safety, causing some to cancel events and renew pushes to beef up their security.

Two Democrats, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont, called off a town hall that was set for the afternoon of Sept. 12. Erik Shelley, a spokesperson for the event, told The Detroit News, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the cancellation wasn't because of a specific threat. But it was related to heightened political tensions nationwide since Kirk's Sept. 10 killing.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, also postponed a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. She criticized the security precautions offered to members of Congress, telling reporters they're from a "bygone era." “From the moment I was elected, I have felt that I accept a certain level of risk in doing this job,” she said.

Republicans are frightened, too. Rep. Nancy Mace told CNN she would start open carrying a gun again in her home state of South Carolina, where the practice is legal. After canceling all outdoor events for the forseeable future, Mace said her security team should be doubled.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-shooting-congress-canceling-events/86113969007/