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Missoula city councilwoman locked down at the Capitol

Missoula Independent

Missoula city councilwoman Caitlin Copple was among those locked down in the U.S. Capitol for about half an hour today, because of that shootout near the Capitol.

Copple is in D.C. on city business, to attend a "Walkability Summit". She says she had just left Congressman Steve Daines's office to visit the director of the Equality Caucus, Brad Jacklin, and was in Colorado Congressman Jared Polis's office when the lockdown happened.
      "A staffer came in and said there had been gunshots fired at the Capitol and that we were on lockdown," said Copple.  "Some other staffers locked the doors and told us to get away from the doors and windows. "

Copple says they turned on CNN to see what was happening.  She quickly let her family and friends know she was OK and posted that on social media. 

Copple says because of the government shutdown, the Capitol was already tense even before the shooting happened.

"The staffers I've met with definitely seem stressed out and haggard given all the stuff they're dealing with  with the shutdown," said Copple. "They're all getting lots of calls from angry constituents."

Copple jokes it will be nice to get home to more mundane business.

"I'm looking forward to coming back and helping people resolve their pothole issues."

Retired in 2014 but still a presence at MTPR, Sally Mauk is a University of Kansas graduate and former wilderness ranger who has reported on everything from the Legislature to forest fires.
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