New Bill Targets Gun-Related Images, Speech

Would make it federal crime to use "language or symbols" that could incite violence against member of Congress

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/10/2011 6:52:46 PM

There is a new kind of Brady bill in the works on Capitol Hill, but rather than restricting gun use, this would restrict the use of gun-related images or speech about a member of Congress or other federal official.

Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) says he is working on a bill to make it a federal crime to use "language or symbols" that could be interpreted as inciting violence against a member of Congress, he told CNN in an interview.

Brady's bill comes following the Arizona shootings and criticisms of Sarah Palin using a crosshairs symbol to target Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' district back in March after Giffords, who was seriously wounded in the shooting and the apparent target, voted for the Obama healthcare bill.

"You can't put bulls eyes or crosshairs on a United States congressman or a federal official," Brady told CNN.

Palin said last March that criticisms of her rhetoric as inciting violence were off base. Those criticisms included from Giffords, who said at the time such attacks "have consequences," a phrase echoed by her supporters following the shooting that left her struggling for life with a bullet wound to the head.

Others were arguing Monday that both sides of the political spectrum talk tough about their opponents, including candidate Barack Obama's comment in 2008 that if Philadelphia Republicans bring a knife to the political fight, "we bring a gun."

Brady's office was not available for comment on the bill.