The intrusion and shooting at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center led the news most of Monday. Tens of thousands of tourists, here for spring break and to see the cherry blossoms, got an unexpected thrill. A tale they can tell their grandchildren. Portions of the nation’s capital were on lockdown and a “troubled” guy from Tennessee who has had run-ins before with the Capitol Police was apprehended.

Monday morning quarterbacks will probably blame the government for overreacting. After all, the gun he pulled on cops turned out to be of the pellet variety. But it’s hard to tell at the time. Most would probably agree that subduing him seemed like a good idea at the time. Especially after Brussels and Paris. The fact that two of their fellow officers were killed in the line of duty in 1998 is a reminder to the police that they are not ornaments, guards or tour guides. They are real cops.

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Suspect apprehended in Capitol shooting

Capitol Police officers say a man was shot by police after drawing a weapon Monday at a U.S. Capitol checkpoint. He was taken to the hospital.

Police said there have been a dozen gun “incidents” on Capitol Hill in the past four years. Metal detectors alerted cops that some of the incoming “tourists” were there for more than a selfie with a senator.

Congress wasn’t in session yesterday. Spring break, you know. But lots of staffers — and a few members of the House and Senate — were on hand. It could have been very bad. And the potential is always there.

Monday’s action here should be a reminder to people in and out of the government that working for Uncle Sam isn’t one long , easy ride on the gravy train. People know about the FBI, the CIA, DEA and other law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Postal Inspectors get involved in some hairy, dangerous stuff too. While Hollywood rarely does them justice, the public generally gets it. College students rank the CIA and NSA as among their top choices for future employment.

Working for the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service is hardly glamorous. There are TV series about people living naked on tropical islands. Or boldly restoring old houses. But nothing currently about claims reps or revenue officers. Or even park rangers. But the fact is that working for certain federal agencies can be dangerous. We rarely hear about it, but incidents happen all the time. Some of them, like the suicidal taxpayer who crashed an airplane into an IRS office in Austin, are fatal.

It’s also interesting that while many members of Congress want to whack government, give minimal pay raises and reduced retirement benefits, they do look after their own hides. There are 535 members of Congress. And 1,700 members of the Capitol Hill PD. And that number is about to go up. That’s lot of protection.

Elected officials have other perks denied to most feds. Those members of Congress who still live in their offices — at one time there were more than a dozen — have free protection 24/7, free housekeeping (no tipping) and a free gym. With towels. Plus no pesky rent bills like the regular people they serve.

In a way, Monday was just like any other day. Just a little more excitement than usual.

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

Although Thomas Jefferson brought a pasta-making machine back to the United States in 1789 after serving as ambassador to France, it wasn’t until 1848 that pasta was produced commercially in the U.S.

Source: Food Reference

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