Threatening email mentions 4 Missouri senators

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - An angry email that named four Missouri state senators and mentioned an Arizona congresswoman who was shot and wounded last year has been traced to an eastern Missouri resident.

Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer says his office received the email around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday. The sender complained high gasoline prices and made what Mayer called a threatening reference to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He says the email also insulted one Republican and three Democratic senators.

This comes four weeks after someone plastered orange gun-target stickers on the doors of six Missouri lawmakers.

Two local senators, Victor Callahan and Jolie Justus, were targeted in both threats.

"It's frustrating to have these continual distractions, especially when they are laced with the threats of violence that these seem to be laced with," Justus told 41 Action News.

"They've gotten close because they put the stickers on the door. So therefore I'd be worried if I were them," said Jeff Harper.

Harper is operations manager at Clarence M. Kelley & Associates, Inc. , a security company started 30 years ago by the former Kansas City police chief and FBI director.

Harper says the lawmakers should consider hiring bodyguards or carrying guns if they know how to use them.

"The problem with this threat is that it elevated quickly," said Harper when we asked him to assess the situation.

The Columbia Daily Tribune quotes the email as saying: "Ouch, gas prices may hit $5 a gallon. Yeah & SHT (sic) may hit the fan. Hey, how is GIFFORDS?"

The email also says, "tell Jack Goodman, Victor Callahan, Jolie Justus and Robin Wright-Jones they are expletive expletive."

The man who sent the email was contacted by police and he then sent an apology.

"I don't know that an apology email after making such a blatant, violent threat is really sufficient," said Justus.

The Missouri Capitol has only limited cameras and no security checkpoints.

The Senate is considering a bill to increase security.

Harper, the security expert, says the senators should watch their surroundings and vary their routines.

Sen. Justus says she has already started doing that.

The Associated Press Contributed to this Report