Lt. Murphy To Attend State Of The Union Speech

Lt. Brian Murphy, the Oak Creek police officer shot during the mass shooting at the Sikh temple in August, will flank Michelle Obama during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday. 

Murphy told Patch's new media partners at WISN-TV that he and his wife almost turned down the trip, but now that it's happening, it feels like a dream.

"With my background, you wouldn't think in a million years, yeah, when I'm 50 I'm gonna go see the White House and sit in a box and all those things. That just don't happen," Murphy said.

During his speech, Obama is expected to focus on the need for tighter restrictions on guns, according to Whitehouse.gov. 

Murphy said he understands the political aspect given the nationwide debate over gun reforms, but isn't fazed.

"I do understand there are some ramifications in the political arena, but to me, I'm just honored," he said.

The address is set to begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday in front of a joint session. All broadcast and most of cable news programs will carry it live, pre-empting other programming.