Patrick Leahy: “this weekend we witnessed an act of senseless violence in Moscow, ID, the home of the University of Idaho, where someone…”

“this weekend we witnessed an act of senseless violence in Moscow, ID, the home of the University of Idaho, where someone reportedly laid siege to a courthouse, killing a police officer and wounding a sheriff's deputy and another person. The gunman then retreated into a church, where he apparently killed a church sexton and then took his own life. The attack at the courthouse in Idaho is another reminder of the need to provide resources and protections crucial to our Federal and State courts. It was 2 years ago when the mother and husband of Judge Joan Lefkow of Chicago were murdered in their home. Judge Lefkow's courageous testimony in our committee hearing in May 2005 is something none of us will forget. Later that year a Georgia State court judge was killed at a courthouse in Atlanta and there was an attack on a State judge in Nevada. Last month, by a vote of 97-0, the Senate passed S. 378, the bipartisan Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. I introduced this measure in January along with Senator Specter, the majority leader, Senator Durbin, Senator Cornyn and others. House Judiciary chairman John Conyers introduced an identical measure in the House also with bipartisan support. Among the bill's many protections are provisions expanding the access of State courts to grant programs for their security. The additional resources provided by this bill may not have prevented what occurred this weekend, but we must do what we can.…”