‘Human Shield’ of Reporters Protected Senate Protester

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Ryan Grim of The Huffington Post says he and other reporters ended up being a “human shield” of sorts when Capitol Police were trying to throw an anti-gun protester out of the Senate.

Patricia Maisch, of Tucson, Ariz., and another woman shouted, “Shame on you!” when the Senate voted down a bill on April 17 that would have required more strict background checks for gun purchases.

Maisch was on the scene of the Tucson shooting in which then-Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head and six people were killed. Maisch took the gun magazine from shooter Jared Loughner.

Capitol Police were trying to escort Maisch out of the Capitol building when she was swarmed by reporters.

“(J)ournalists kind of formed a human shield around her because they all had their microphone in front of her,” Grim said on MSNBC’s “The Last Word” on Monday. “The Capitol Police realized perhaps arresting a hero of Tucson, right after the Senate knocked down this sensible gun bill, wasn't the best move, so they let her continue to talk.”

During the time Grim described, Maisch was asked by the press why she screamed that senators should be ashamed.

"Because they are an embarrassment to this country that they don't' have any compassion or care for people who have been taken brutally from their families," she responded, according to CNN.