Rand Paul: “Reserving the right to object, I agree that members of the judicial branch need better protection. In fact, I have been…”

“Reserving the right to object, I agree that members of the judicial branch need better protection. In fact, I have been appalled that leftwing pro-abortion groups released the addresses of our Supreme Court Justices and that there have been people at their houses trying to intimidate them. It is appalling and shouldn't happen. Whoever it was that released the addresses of the Supreme Court Justices should be punished. So I think there is bipartisan support in this. I was disappointed though that the White House has not condemned the release of the Supreme Court Justices. I think that ranting and raving and noise all night is disturbing the peace and isn't actually First Amendment protected speech. But if recent years have taught us anything, it is that Members of the legislative branch also need protection. That was clear in 2011 when Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was tragically shot while doing the most important part of her job, meeting with constituents. Words cannot express how happy and inspired I was to see Congresswoman Giffords was in the Chamber as her husband, Senator Kelly, was recently sworn in, but words also cannot express the pain felt by the families of the people who were killed and wounded that day. That should have been a wakeup call to better protect Members of Congress and, in doing so, better protect the people around them. But just a few years ago, a shooter nearly killed Congressman Steve Scalise during practice for the annual charity baseball game.…”