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Anger over health-care reform spurs rise in threats against Congress members

04/09/2010 9:13 am 1 comment

Source: Sari Horwitz and Ben Pershing / The Washington Post

Anger over the health-care overhaul has led to a nearly threefold increase in recent months in the number of serious threats against members of Congress, federal law enforcement officials said.

The lawmakers reported 42 threats in the first three months of this year, compared with 15 in the last three months of 2009, said Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer, who had information about threats involving both chambers.

“The incidents ranged from very vulgar to serious threats, including death threats,” Gainer said. “The ability to carry them out is another question and part of an investigation to determine what, if any, appropriate steps to take.”

Nearly all of the recent threats appear to come from opponents of the health-care overhaul, said Gainer, who also served four years as chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. And, he said, there have been “significantly more” threats against House members than against senators.

To read this article in its entirety visit The Washington Post.

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http://wellescent.com/health_forum/ Wellescent Health

That these individuals think it acceptable to make such threats indicates serious mental issues on their part. At the same time, it is important to try to understand just what they think is so wrong with these reforms that would warrant taking the risks of threatening public figures. It would seem that the Republican approach to promoting fear and uncertainty over the changes has been very successful.

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