AUSTIN, Texas — Outside of the Williamson County Courthouse on Sunday, a crowd gathered for prayer after the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
The lawn echoed scripture and song, while members of the Williamson County Republican Party, district leaders and U.S. Rep. John Carter spoke before the audience.
Sonya Jett, a former Georgetown resident, said she joined the prayer because "the country's so divided" and she was appalled by the violence displayed.
Former president Trump was injured in the ear, and a bystander was killed during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"We can all have our differences of opinions. We shouldn't change our friendships. That shouldn't change who we love," Jett said.
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Jett noted that although Trump is a controversial candidate, there should be a level of civility.
"I'm not a fan of President [Joe] Biden, but he is the president and there should be respect there," Jett said. "And the same with [former] President Trump. He may not be the president now, but he was the president."
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As the nation grapples with what transpired, concerns are being raised about security and how the shooter was able to gain such close proximity to the former president.
Thom Bolsch, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent, said the federal agency made grand mistakes and called into question how the shooting was able to be carried out.
"Just the mere fact that that had occurred, that they allowed somebody with a rifle to get into that site or close enough to that site – that they could take a shot or multiple shots – is just a complete failure on that side," Bolsch said.
Bolsch, who has served under five U.S. presidents, said that while securing the outdoor venue Trump was at could pose a challenge, security following the shooting would likely need to be heightened.
"We're going to have to give him a higher level of security because let's face it, [Trump] probably has a higher risk factor and threat level than the sitting president," Bolsch said. "Moving forward, I would think that even the Trump campaign is maybe going to go do smaller events, maybe indoor events."
Bolsch also alluded to the hate spewed among supporters and the need to form a solution as the November inches closer.
"We have to just tone it down," he said. "Tone down the rhetoric, tone down the hate speech."