Airports, courthouses, and now the US House of Representatives: Metal detectors were on Tuesday installed outside the House floor by Capitol Police, with CNN reporting that all House members and their guests, including staffers and aides, will need to pass through them to access the floor. Per a memo from Acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett, the measure was taken as a way to verify that no guns and incendiary devices are brought into the chamber in keeping with regulations. As for the "why now," CNN says it spoke with a number of House Democrats who expressed concern that some lawmakers, particularly new ones, aren't abiding by the rules.
- One quote to that end: The detectors are "to keep the jackasses from carrying guns into the chamber," an unnamed Democratic lawmaker told the Hill. "We've already got one member who's announced she wants to bring one in there." That would be GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who has stated she planned to bring her Glock pistol to Congress. The House's youngest member in centuries, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, said in an interview he was armed during the Capitol riot.