News: Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) is introducing a bill today that would require the United States Secret Service to establish a perimeter of at least 500 yards around public events to protect from weapons like the AR-15, as well as secure all elevated positions within firing range.
The proposal comes on the one-month anniversary of the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a Butler, Pa., rally. An AR-15, the most popular assault rifle in the country, was used in the July 13 incident.
Torres’ bill would prompt the USSS to establish a 500-yard minimum perimeter and allow the agency to extend that perimeter if needed in certain environments. Current law doesn’t require the Secret Service to do so.
Torres has also previously introduced a bill with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) that seeks to strengthen Secret Service protections for Trump, President Joe Biden and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The attack on Trump, which injured the former president and left two people dead, including the shooter, led to bipartisan scrutiny over flaws in Secret Service security protocols.
Trump’s shooter opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle while standing on the roof of a shed near where the former president was speaking. The shooter was roughly 400 feet, or less than 150 meters, away from Trump.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after a disastrous appearance before the House Oversight Committee last month.
The House is currently investigating Trump’s attack through its newly established bipartisan task force. We wrote about its latest plans on Monday.
— Mica Soellner
