Oklahoma Legislator Steps Up Security In Public Appearance

Dan Bewley, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- With Congress on a break this weekend our local legislators are back in town. They're not only talking with the people they represent but also with local law enforcement.

It is all in response to the tragic event two weeks ago in Arizona when Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot during a town hall meeting. On Saturday morning, Oklahoma Congressman John Sullivan joined hundreds of other Tulsans in a March for Life.

They walked the streets downtown in support of more laws preventing abortion. One thing that was obvious throughout the march was the strong police presence.

Congressman Sullivan tells us his office has been talking with local law enforcement since the shooting in Arizona. He held a few town hall meetings Friday and asked police to be present as well.

Sullivan says all members of Congress have been briefed by the FBI and Capitol Police about making sure their public appearances have measure of security.

He admits securing a town hall meeting is one thing and doing it at a march is something entirely different. But, he says, it's important for the public to know that law enforcement is on hand.

"I think the presence of a police car, a law enforcement car, a person in uniform there goes a long way if someone is thinking about doing something like this. They may not think about it if they see that," Representative John Sullivan said.

Saturday's march would have seen a police presence regardless of whether Congressman Sullivan was participating, but he says it was important to let Tulsa Police know that he was there.