Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, said District of Columbia law enforcement should have shot down the gyrocopter that landed on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Mr. Graham said the threat of Islamist terrorism justifies drastic actions — he did not specify whether missiles or anti-aircraft guns should have been used — against an unauthorized plane.
“He should have been subject to being shot out of the sky. I don’t know why he wasn’t, but our nation is under siege. Radical Islam is a threat to our home land. There are probably radical Islamic cells in our backyard already,” he said. “And if somebody is willing to, you know, approach vital government infrastructure, they should do so at their own peril.”
Douglas Hughes was arrested by Capitol Police on Wednesday afternoon after he landed the gyrocopter. The small vehicle was unarmed and likely would not make a formidable weapon, even if used kamikaze-style.
“I don’t know if he’s mentally ill. I’m glad he’s alive in that regard, if he’s mentally ill, but we’ve got to be more serious about our national security,” Mr. Graham said.
Mr. Graham has said he is considering a run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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