In light of Minnesota state legislators being attacked at their homes early Saturday by a suspected assassin who was captured late Sunday, safety personnel here in New Hampshire took additional precautions over the weekend, even unpublishing some online information about where our 424 state lawmakers live.
Terence R. Pfaff, chief operating officer for the General Court of New Hampshire, told lawmakers in a memo on Saturday that the removal of public-facing address information would be temporary, noting that the Legislature’s security team will continue sharing any relevant information.
While law enforcement agencies are being asked to familiarize themselves with where New Hampshire lawmakers live in their respective communities, Pfaff also advised elected officials to take a cautious posture themselves.
“I would suggest you stay continuously vigilant while going about your daily routines. Your situational awareness is your best tool for your personal safety,” he wrote. “If you see something that doesn’t look or feel right, say something.”
The New Hampshire Department of Safety said there was no known connection between what happened in Minnesota and the circumstances here in New Hampshire. Even so, the incident left Republicans and Democrats alike feeling on edge.
Representative Alexis Simpson of Exeter, the Democratic minority leader in the New Hampshire House, relayed guidance to her colleagues suggesting they “consider keeping a lower profile” amid the “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration. The protests drew thousands of participants in New Hampshire (including at sizable gatherings in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Dover, Keene, Portsmouth, and elsewhere) as millions rallied at similar demonstrations nationwide, while President Trump spoke at a flashy military parade in Washington.
Democratic US Senator Amy Klobuchar had been slated to attend a Flag Day Dinner in Manchester on Saturday, but she returned to Minnesota home after news of the attacks that claimed the life of a long-time friend. (Klobuchar still addressed the Manchester event remotely via Zoom.)
In a joint statement acknowledging a tense political moment, New Hampshire Senate President Sharon M. Carson of Londonderry and Democratic Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth, the chamber’s minority leader, on Saturday condemned the attacks in Minnesota and offered condolences to those harmed.
“Public service should never come with the threat of violence,” they said. “We affirm our shared commitment to civility, safety, and the rule of law.”
“We know our country is divided on many issues, but in moments like these, we must remember what unites us,” they added. “We must reject the forces of hatred, political violence, and extremism in all forms.”
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Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.