The Hill News

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) says she’s noticed an increased law enforcement presence at her townhall events in North Carolina.

Hagan told local TV affiliate WFMY Friday morning that she has continued to hold meet-and-greet events with constituents in the wake of the Arizona shootings, and that there’s been more local security.

"I have townhall meetings all across the state and what I do is what I've done always â€" we contact local law enforcement, tell them we're in the area â€" but I will say since that shooting they have definitely come out in stronger force," Hagan said. "However, the citizens are also coming out, so I don't think it's hampered us in North Carolina at all as having a one-on-one contact with me and our other elected officials."

The attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) on a Congress on Your Corner event in Tucson, Ariz., last month has left members of Congress and political observers debating whether politicians s! hould increase security, change the way they meet constituents or some combination of both.

A number of bills have been proposed to address lawmakers’ safety, including one that would allow members of Congress to carry weapons in the District of Columbia and another banning all firearms within 1,000 feet of members of Congress at public events.