Oklahoma state leaders have strongly condemned the tragic shooting that targeted Minnesota lawmakers and their families. In a rare show of unity, leaders from both parties expressed sorrow over the violence, which left some wounded and others dead. Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said, "This horrific act is not just an attack on these public servants and their families—it’s an attack on every American who values law, peaceful debate, and civic duty," according to the Oklahoma Senate's website.
Paxton asserted that such a disdainful act of violence stands in violent opposition to the principles of a conducive and functioning democracy. "We can disagree strongly on policy and still hold space for one another’s humanity," Paxton stated, according to the Oklahoma Senate's website. He highlighted the commitment of the victims to their civic roles, extending his prayers to the distressed families. Simultaneously, Oklahoma's legislative branches cemented their stance against violence under any pretext.
Adding to the chorus of repudiation, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, addressed the fear and heartbreak that such politically fueled violence engenders, particularly to those with families. Children and spouses, innocents in the political realm, are inadvertently dragged into the line of fire, a reality Hilbert finds both terrifying and heartrending. Reflecting on the shared vulnerability of legislators and their loved ones, Hilbert offered prayers for strength and recovery and emphasized Oklahoma's solidarity with Minnesota.
According to the Oklahoma Senate, on the Democratic front, the voices were equally stricken and resolute. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, shared her personal connections with one of the victims, Speaker Melissa Hortman, recalling her as an outstanding servant to the public and "extremely kind." Kirt drew attention to the broader assault this type of violence poses on democracy at large and called for no tolerance of such acts. She joined her colleagues in condemning the crime and upholding the commitment to public and legislative safety.
As per the Oklahoma Senate, House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson also expressed profound sorrow over the loss of her friend and fellow board member on the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Speaker Hortman. Munson lamented the loss of leaders who were subject to "a horrid act" of political violence. She stated, "Oklahomans join Minnesota in mourning this devastating loss and standing firm against political violence in any form," affirming a collective stand with Minnesota on behalf of the state of Oklahoma.
