Rep. Paul Broun (creative commons photo)

"Tuesday night at a town hall meeting in Oglethorpe County, Georgia an elderly man asked the abhorrent question, “Who’s going to shoot Obama?” I was stunned by the question and chose not to dignify it with a response; therefore, at that moment I moved on to the next person with a question. After the event, my office took action with the appropriate authorities. I deeply regret that this incident happened at all. Furthermore, I condemn all statements—made in sincerity or jest—that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the President of the United States or any other public official. Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated."

The Secret Service has also reportedly already looked into the incident.

The Washington Post reported:

According to Ed Donovan, a Secret Service spokesman, the situation has been looked into.

"We're aware of the incident and the appropriate steps were taken," Donovan told me. "At this point it's a closed matter."

A law enforcement source confirmed that the Secret Service interviewed the constituent and determined that he or she was an "elderly person" who now regrets making a bad joke.

A person attending a town hall meeting held by Georgia Republican Rep. Paul Broun Tuesday asked the congressman "Who is going to shoot Obama?," the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

It's unclear what the exact wording of the question was because, according to the Athens newspaper, the room was noisy and reporters in the back could not clearly hear the question. The Banner-Herald noted, however, that the question got a "big laugh" from the Oglethorpe County crowd. 

Here's how Rep. Broun's responded at the meeting: "The thing is, I know there’s a lot of frustration with this president. We’re going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we’ll elect somebody that’s going to be a conservative, limited-government president that will take a smaller, who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare."

A spokesperson for Rep. Broun confirmed that the question asked. Blake Aued reported: "Broun’s press secretary, Jessica Morris, confirmed that the question was indeed, who is going to shoot Obama? 'Obviously, the question was inappropriate, so Congressman Broun moved on, she said."

Broun, a member of the Tea Party caucus who is among the most conservative representatives in Congress, has represented Georgia's 10th district since 2007. Broun made headlines last month when he skipped the State of the Union address and live tweeted during the speech instead.

"Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism," he tweeted during President Obama's address.

Salon reported: "It's also worth noting Broun's own history of inflammatory rhetoric. In November 2008 he warned that Obama may try to impose either a Marxist or a Nazi dictatorship on the country. He has also, for example, addressed the John Birch Society."