#MuhInsurrection 2.0 - Lawmakers Plan for Possible 'Mass Casualty Event'

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Imagine the unthinkable: a mass shooting of members of Congress that leaves a large swath of the country unrepresented and shifts the balance of political power in Washington.

In the current political environment, such an outbreak of violence is not as unthinkable as it used to be, according to a bipartisan collection of House members. The attempted assassination of members at a congressional baseball team practice in 2017, the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a dramatic spike in threats against members and, most recently, a possible second assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump highlight the need for Congress to ensure it can continue to govern in the aftermath of mass violence, they said.

To address such a scenario, these four House members — two Republicans and two Democrats — are pushing an unlikely solution: a constitutional amendment that would allow members to be replaced quickly in the event of a mass-casualty event.

In addition to ensuring uninterrupted representation for constituents, the amendment would discourage attempts to use violence to sway the balance of power in the House.

“We’ve seen a 300 percent increase in threats against members over the last seven years, according to the Capitol Police,” said Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), one of four lawmakers pushing the issue. “In an environment where we have seen a growing tendency toward political violence, imagine — horrifically — a baseball practice where someone has bad intentions and better aim. You can literally flip a majority for three to four months. Which I think is a frightening incentive for political violence.”

According to a survey of state election officials, states need between three and four months, on average, to hold a special election to replace a deceased House member — a function of the time it takes to print ballots in addition to a federal law requiring ballots to be mailed to overseas and military voters at least 45 days ahead of an election.

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