BISHOP COMMENTS ON ARIZONA SHOOTINGS.

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the office of Utah Rep. Rob Bishop:

Utah leaders address security and rhetoric after Ariz. shooting

January 10th, 2011 @ 6:07pm

By ksl.com

"I don't think I'm that important, to be honest with you," Bishop told KSL's Doug Wright on Monday, talking about how embarrassed he has been in the past when military personnel have been assigned to take care of him on some trips. He added, "I feel more comfortable in Utah than I do back in Washington. If I'm going to be nervous, it's back there."

SALT LAKE CITY -- Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., has raised questions about gun control and whether rules need to be tightened. It also has local politicians pausing to reflect on their own safety and security.

Chaffetz says he doesn't feel safe

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, talked to CNN Sunday night specifically about what the tragedy means for his own security. He has major concerns about the safety of his personal residence in Utah as well as his two district offices. He said he always carries a weapon while in Utah.

A 22-year-old man described as a social outcast with wild beliefs steeped in mistrust faces a federal court hearing on charges he tried to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a Tucson shooting rampage that left six people dead.

"I do not carry a weapon when I go to Washington D.C. We have great security there. But when I'm home here in Utah -- I was a concealed weapon permit carrier before I was in Congress. I've continued with that practice, and I will probably make it even more regular in my routine moving forward," Chaffetz told CNN Sunday night.

He talked about having U.S. Marshals protect lawmakers. He also thinks more could be done to address threats on the Internet.

"I think we need to look very closely at the Internet because we get a lot of threats via Facebook and Twitter and e-mails that are just unacceptable. I think we're going to have to take those much more seriously than we have in the past," he said.

The same sentiment is felt among some -- certainly not all -- lawmakers at both the U.S. Capitol and Utah's State Capitol, where flags were at half staff Monday.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, says hot topics like immigration can create a volatile atmosphere. He says he's more likely to carry his gun at meetings -- like the one Congressman Gabrielle Gifford was holding -- where there is no security.

"You become a target in certain issues too, so you just have to watch your surroundings and be cognizant of where and when to exercise that right," Ray said.

Other Utah politicians not worried about safety

Unlike Chaffetz and Ray, other Utah politicians say they aren't worried.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says he wouldn't like having U.S. Marshals follow him around.

"I don't think we can tie this incident to anything other than a person who was either evil or mentally insane or some combination of both." -Sen. Mike Lee

"I don't think I'm that important, to be honest with you," Bishop told KSL's Doug Wright on Monday, talking about how embarrassed he has been in the past when military personnel have been assigned to take care of him on some trips. He added, "I feel more comfortable in Utah than I do back in Washington. If I'm going to be nervous, it's back there."

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, says he doesn't carry a gun, and he's not planning to start.

"I've always said my favorite part of the job is just being around my constituents and hearing from people," Matheson said. "That's such a top priority for me that that's just what I want to continue to do."

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell told the Doug Wright Show that what happened to Giffords was a crime, not necessarily a trend.

"We need to be out there, and until it's unsafe to be out there, the legislators, city council members, Congress people need to be out among the people," Bell said.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also spoke to the national media Sunday. He addressed the political rhetoric and said he doesn't think this incident should be tied to anything political. He said doing so is disrespectful to the victims and their families.

"I don't think we can tie this incident to anything other than a person who was either evil or mentally insane or some combination of both. At this point it doesn't make any sense to try to turn it into a partisan political battle," he said.

Elected officials hope good will come from Ariz. tragedy

Matheson, a friend on Congresswoman Giffords, also spoke about the civility of politics.

"I don't care where anyone is on the political spectrum -- the far left or the far right," Matheson told KSL. "I think we all share in our horror of what happened and we all condemn it."

Bishop said he hopes the nation will take a closer look at both political and social rhetoric.

"I think we all share in our horror of what happened and we all condemn it." -Rep. Jim Matheson

"I hope we take this time, not just to consider the kind of rhetoric we have in politics, but I think in all aspects of our life I look at the kind of violence in entertainment, how fans and parents act at sporting even," said Rep. Bishop. "I think it's a chance to step back and say that we should maybe be toning down some of the way we just live our lives."

As far as security at Utah's state capitol, the Utah Highway Patrol was already planning to double their efforts this year because immigration is a big issue.

"Can we prevent these things from occurring? That's hard to say. But can we react to them? Absolutely," said Utah Highway Patrol Col. Danny Fuhr.

Meanwhile, House GOP leaders have cleared this week's schedule, including a scheduled vote on the health care reform law. A resolution hearing will honor the Congresswoman and the others targeted in the weekend attack. President Obama plans a moment of silence at 9 a.m. mountain time.

The shooting left six people dead and Congresswoman Giffords critically wounded. The suspect faces a court hearing Monday afternoon.

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Story written with contributions from Richard, Andrew Adams and the DMC News Team.