House Republicans were met with heavy security Thursday afternoon as they arrived in Baltimore for their three-day annual issues retreat.

Shortly after 3 p.m., Members arrived via bus at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. They were escorted into town by several Maryland State Police, Baltimore Police and Capitol Police motorcycles, Capitol Police squad cars and a heavily armed Capitol Police tactical unit. A Baltimore Police helicopter also circled overhead as Members unloaded from the buses and entered the hotel.

The show of force comes in the wake of Saturday’s attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who remains in critical condition in a Tucson, Ariz., hospital.

The GOP retreat will last through Saturday.