During U.S. Sen. James Lankford's first week representing Oklahoma's 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was seriously wounded and six constituents were shot to death in a grocery store parking lot in her district.

Two weeks ago, days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah, Lankford had dinner with Giffords' husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly.

"He just reached out to me and said, 'Can we have dinner and just talk about where we are as a country and what can we do to think of ways to figure this out?'" Lankford said.

In a time when many seem to consider moderation a betrayal and reason a weakness, Lankford has probably felt the lash of public criticism from left and right more than any elected Oklaho

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