The Hill News

New House members were summoned by to a security briefing Saturday afternoon in the wake of the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The Arizona Democrat was shot in the head at close range outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event on Saturday morning. She remains in critical condition at the city’s University Medical Center.

A 22-year-old suspect is in custody, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Michigan Bill Huizenga (R) was one of about 80 new members who received the security briefing at a conference just outside Washington in Williamsburg, Va.

“I can tell you the mood is sad,” Huizenga told the Grand Rapids Press after leaving the meeting. “It’s a shock. When they made the announcement and we started getting official announcements from Capitol Police, it was very sobering.”

Huizenga said the new members were particularly concerned given that Giffords was shot at a public forum for her constituents.

“All of us have been out and campaigning and doing town hall meetings and doing these types of things,” Huizenga said. “It’s a normal course of business.”

Some lawmakers have argued that Saturday’s shooting should lead to great security for the rank-and-file members of Congress.

"I would certainly insist on more security... [so] we can make sure this doesn't happen again,” Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) told KVOA.