Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., said Thursday that there's no denying that the "hatred" in the country is "inflaming" unstable people.

"We've got to change the way we're interacting with each other," McSally said on CNN. "This hatred and this demonizing is so toxic. And if we think that it's not inflaming people who maybe are not stable or are prone to violence, is not inflaming them, that they need to do something about it, we're kidding ourselves."

McSally's comments came in response to Wednesday's shooting at a Republican congressional baseball practice, where four were shot including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.

McSally said she has received threats for her support of President Trump, including a Tucson man who called her office and said he couldn't wait to pull the trigger.

"After the man was arrested threatening to kill me, I, sadly, said to friends and family, loved ones, I think it's only a matter of time before somebody takes action," McSally said. "We know in our community better than any that threats of violence and acts of violence, sometimes it's not a large leap."

McSally holds the seat once held by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot in the head in an assassination attempt in Tucson in 2011.



