Arkansas lawmakers weigh in on assassination attempt

Saturday's assassination attempt of former President Trump has ushered in a dark chapter of political violence and redefined a campaign already packed with historic firsts, Axios' Zachary Basu writes .

State of play: The 2024 Republican National Convention begins today in Milwaukee, and America faces a new level of challenges and fears.

What they're saying locally: "My prayers continue to be with President Trump and the innocent Americans who were exercising their Constitutional rights and caught in this heartbreaking act of violence," U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) of Rogers posted on X .

• "There is no place for political violence in this country."

"I had a chance to speak with President Trump this morning. He's doing well. He's in good spirits. He's very grateful for the prayers that Americans have sent to him and all those who are affected at the rally," U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) said Sunday morning on " Face the Nation ."

• "He's also focused on moving ahead to the convention this week in Milwaukee. So it's a tough day. But President Trump is resilient, as [are his] supporters and as is our nation."

"President Trump won't be stopped. America can't be broken. Pray for our country," was Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' message on X .

The latest: The shooting caused lawmakers across the political spectrum to raise concerns of political violence, and two House members said Sunday they plan to file a bill that would enhance security protection for presidential candidates.

• Trump said a bullet pierced his ear during the shooting, writing on Truth Social on Saturday that he "felt the bullet ripping through the skin."
• Corey Comperatore , a former Pennsylvania fire chief, was killed in the attack. Officials say his final act was to dive on his family members to shield them.
• The FBI identified the alleged shooter — he was killed by Secret Service agents after he opened fire — as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel, Pa. A motive isn't clear.

What we're hearing: Several members of Congress told Axios they plan to cancel events and to close or restrict their campaign and congressional offices in response to the shooting.

The big picture: This will be a defining moment for the presidential election, especially when, just days ago, the conversation focused almost entirely on Democratic concerns that President Biden didn't have the stamina to win .

The bottom line: "Everything in America has turned political," Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write . "Everything political turned visceral. And everything visceral turned into the possibility of unspeakable violence like this."

Go deeper: Axios reporter Sophia Cai was on the scene in Pennsylvania and she wrote about what she saw .

• See photos of the shooting's aftermath.