The Hill News

One of the biggest gun-control proponents in the House said Friday that he did not plan to stop his Congress on Your Corner events in the aftermath of the Arizona shooting Saturday.

Rep. Mike Quigley, an outspoken advocate of tighter gun-control restrictions who on Tuesday said he did not think anything could be done to make federal legislators safer while meeting with constituents, said today in an e-mail to supporters that he planned to continue the Congress on Your Corner events as frequently as possible.

"I want you to know that I will continue to hold events in the community, visit my constituents, and make myself available to those I serve," Quigley said. "Our representative government de! pends on it."

Quigley's statement comes nearly a week after the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) that left six dead and 14 people hospitalized, including Giffords. In the statement Quigley praised Giffords for hosting the event.

"I believe it is democracy in action," Quigley said in the statement. "Representative Giffords, her staff, and everyone attending were doing what this country is built on: participating in a conversation between an elected official and the people she represents."

Since the shooting some have questioned whether members of Congress should change the way they interact with the public, either by increasing security or creating additional gun laws. For his part, Quigley has said he did not think anything could be done to make members of Congress safer, but still thinks gun control laws need to be stronger.