On Thursday, Congressman Steve Scalise stepped onto the House floor to a several minutes-long standing ovation. The sight of the Louisiana lawmaker, who returned to the chamber for the first time since being shot in June during a practice for the annual Congressional baseball game, brought many of his colleagues to tears.

There were hugs and there were high fives. There was thunderous applause. For just a few minutes, there were no Republicans or Democrats, just genuine smiles and well wishes from friends who were glad to see him come back to work.

However, the sad reality revealed in that spontaneous moment of love and support is that took a man being shot to generate it.