Gabby Giffords and Steve Scalise were both in recent memory which adds legitimacy to their concerns. Also Wiki says there were five shot by Puerto Rican activists in 1954, which I had never heard of before. I do know that a Pennsylvania Republican retired in the 90’s due to him and his staff being menaced by a former Baltimore City teacher who was the same machete-wielding lunatic who ended up attacking an elementary school.
Hmmm... looks to me like the larger problem is dealing with the crazies that we all have to dodge and walk on eggshells to avoid offending.
correction, 2002 not the 90’s