News - World: US lawmakers will receive thousands of dollars to upgrade security at their homes, as a recent survey warned about the rise of political violence across the nation.   

Under a residential security program, which is set to begin in mid-August, members of the House will get up to $10,000 to upgrade security system equipment at their personal residences.

Eligible equipment includes motion sensors, video recorders, indoor and outdoor cameras and door lock.

News of the initiative comes after a New York congressman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was attacked with a sharp object during a campaign event.

A recent national survey found that support for political violence appears to be on the rise in the US.

The mega-survey conducted by researchers at University of California, Davis, and released this month, said one in five US adults say political violence is justified at least in some circumstances.

A much smaller portion of survey respondents, 3%, believe that political violence is usually or always justified.

Experts warned that the reported increase in threats against lawmakers endangers the health of America’s democracy.

They say the country still has time to tamp down violent rhetoric if political leaders, particularly those in the Republican party, stand up and condemn this alarming behavior.

“There is simply no place for political violence in a healthy democracy,” said Jennifer Dresden, policy advocate for the group Protect Democracy.

“The increase in threats and harassment being leveled at people across our government is deeply concerning,” she said.

The members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US say they have frequently been the targets of violent threats, requiring them to get personal security details

One member of the committee Republican Adam Kinzing, shared a threatening letter sent to his wife last month.

The sender vowed to execute Kinzinger, his wife and their newborn son. He is not seeking re-election in 2022.

Even those who help administer elections in the US have reported an increase in threats against them.

Another poll, conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice this year, said one in six elec­tion offi­cials have received threats because of their job, and 77% believe threats against them have increased in recent years.

Source: Press TV