At least 431 attacks on Census workers

By Ed O'Keefe

Guns, knives, lawn chairs, animals -- just some of the items used to shoo away or threaten U.S. Census Bureau workers this year.

Workers were involved in at least 431 reported incidents of violence as of Friday, according to the Census Bureau. Those incidents included 140 threats with weapons and 91 physical attacks, officials said.

The number of incidents reported by census takers is more than double from the 2000 Census. But colleague Carol Morello reported last week that officials do not consider anti-government sentiment more widespread than usual this year.

But that didn't stop Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) from suggesting as much late last week on the floor of the House.

Census workers "are performing a very important public service," Moran said (see the video clip above). "I'm afraid that some of this abuse may be tied to some of the anti-government rhetoric from some people in this body and the Republican noise machine, in other words, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and other so-called shock jocks."

What do you think? Is it anti-government sentiment or just people unwilling to share their personal information with anyone? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.