ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO-WCCO) Minnesota is giving its state lawmakers more money to install home security systems.
The move comes a month after a gunman killed State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home. Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot at their home but are expected to recover.
According to prosecutors in the case, the gunman, allegedly Vance Boelter, targeted at least two other state lawmakers the same night, and had a list of dozens of names that were potential targets. Boelter was arrested and charged both in Minnesota and federally with murder, attempted murder, and illegal gun charges.
“It was so eye opening for so many lawmakers who went, ‘I have just been lax in my security,’ because we never thought something like this would ever happen,” says Minnesota State Senator and Assistant Minority Leader Julia Coleman.
Coleman installed the system after the attacks, using money from her campaign account. Minnesota state law allows that.
“Now my house feels like Fort Knox, which gives me peace of mind, but I also hate the reason that I have it,” Coleman added.
The same thing is happening in the U.S. House. Members there will have $20,000 to increase the security of their homes, up from the current $10,000 allotment. They’ll also get $5,000 a month to pay for personal security through the end of the fiscal year.
Security at the Minnesota State Capitol itself is also being reviewed and increased. Some – including Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher – thinks the addition of metal detectors is long overdue at the capitol.
“Let’s just face it, political violence in this country is more polarized than it’s ever been in decades, and there’s certain actors that are willing to commit political violence and threats and intimidation,” Fletcher explains. “And we have to face the reality that our job is to protect the people inside that building.”
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