Southwest Florida lawmakers sat down exclusively with NBC2 to voice their concerns about security in the wake of the apparent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
State Representative Spencer Roach said, "I think everyone in public office takes that risk of service, or any high profile position."
In 2021, Roach's office was shot at, an incident later determined to be accidental.
Roach said, "As I tell people, accident or not, you're just as dead."
He also revealed that his home was targeted in a drive-by shooting last July.
Roach explained, "My home was shot in a drive-by shooting last July, and at some point in my second term in office, I had a death threat that FDLE deemed credible. I had protective detail at the capitol for a few days."
Jenna Persons, another Southwest Florida legislator, recalled receiving threats after sponsoring a controversial unborn child bill.
Persons said, "That legislation led to rallies outside my office, even here locally, where there were signs with threats to my life."
Despite the threats and violence, Persons expressed hope for unity in the country.
She said, "We can't lose hope that we will never be unified again. We are a resilient country. We are a strong country."
Political consultant Terry Miller believes the recent shooting sends a clear message.
Miller said, "The fact that Trump stood up and raised his hand showed he won't be intimidated, and he's not going to allow this to get him off of his mission to become the next president. You're not going to use these types of third-world tactics to dissuade him."
Roach agreed that the incident would be remembered in history.
"That photo with the American flag in the background and fist raised in the air with blood on his face will be an iconic photo that will be in American history books for the next 200 years," Roach said.
NBC2 Chief Political Correspondent Dave Elias recently attended a Trump campaign rally in Doral and described the security measures in place.
Elias said, "I'll tell you personally, I thought it was some of the tightest security I had seen in a while. We went through a metal detector. I was wanded, my bag searched. Secret Service even threw out a bottle of hairspray I was carrying."
Despite the stringent security, Elias admitted that safety is always a concern, especially at politically charged events.
He said, "Despite all that, given the political climate, safety is always at the top of my mind, especially when I'm going into a politically charged rally like Trump's."
The discussion of security concerns by lawmakers underscores the heightened tension and potential risks faced by those in public office.
