Post-shooting message to Sen. Jeff Flake: 'I hope the next guy has a better aim'

Dan Nowicki | The Republic | azcentral.com

The day after Sen. Jeff Flake was among the targets of a gunman who attacked a congressional baseball team practice in Virginia, a Facebook user from Phoenix left him a pointed message:

"Hey, Congressmen! Must be nice to have health insurance at a time like this. I hope the next guy has a better aim."

Tim Pompe was commenting on a Flake post in which the Arizona Republican expressed support for Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the House majority whip who was critically wounded Wednesday by a rifle shot to the hip.

"We're all pulling for you Congressman Steve Scalise, Republicans and Democratic alike," Flake wrote.

Pompe's rejoinder was reported to the U.S. Capitol Police and eventually removed by Flake's staff, who otherwise declined to comment.

It also drew a reaction from other Facebook users on Flake's page.

"Are you advocating the assassination of an elected official?" wrote David Fishman.

"Tim you are (bordering) on illegal activity," Chris Johnson added.

"Just showing the same respect & concern that they show others. Suck it up," Pompe shot back.

In a later comment, Pompe suggested he was exercising his free-speech rights.

"Oh yeah. I forgot that these clowns have abolished the First Amendment," Pompe replied.

Leisa Brug Weir, a former adviser to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, weighed in: "You are the problem!!!"

Flake has played on the Republican congressional baseball team for 16 years. The team was practicing for the annual charity game against the Democrats when a gunman opened fire and wounded Scalise and four others. Flake was unhurt and, when the shooting stopped, rendered aid to Scalise.

The attack has re-started a debate over security for members of Congress. Before Scalise, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was nearly killed in a 2011 assassination attempt near Tucson. The last member of Congress murdered was Rep. Leo Ryan, D-Calif., in 1978.

"Every office gets threats from time to time," Flake said Wednesday. "We tend not to speak publicly about them, but we do take them seriously. And I have to say after the Gabby Giffords shooting, we've taken those threats more seriously."

Nowicki is The Arizona Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter, @dannowicki.

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