On Saturday a gunman managed to kill 20 people at a Walmart in El Paso Texas, not even a day later nine people died in Dayton, Ohio as another gunman opened fire near some bars. On Monday morning, two days after the El Paso shooting, President Trump addressed the shootings from the White House, saying that Americans should “condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy.”
Multiple Shooting
“The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by racist hate. In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated,” Trump said during an address. “Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart, and devours the soul.” [1]
Today’s shooting in El Paso, Texas, was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today’s hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019
Trump went on to blame the mental health problems in America and realistic video games on encouraging people to become violent. “Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger,” Trump said in his speech, “not the gun.”
Public Image
The recent shootings have fanned the flames of the debate on gun control. Although Trump has aid in the past that he isn’t for establishing measures of gun control, he did hint at implementing limited gun control in his speech on Monday. Whether this is a serious thought in the Trump administration currently, or they’re trying to soften the blow of the shootings which are effecting Trump’s public image.
Many news outlets have been wondering about whether Trump’s “racist rhetoric” is to blame for the mass shootings. [2]
One thing he did mention was a “red flag law” which would allow people to petition the court to keep mentally ill family or friends from gaining access to guns. “The choice is ours and ours alone. It is not up to mentally ill monsters, it is up to us that we are able to pass great legislation. After all of these years, we will ensure that those who were attacked, will not have died in vain,” Trump said.
Thirteen hours after the shooting in El Paso, a shooter killed nine people in Dayton Ohio, wounding several others.
“The internet has provided a dangerous avenue to radicalize disturbed minds,” Trump said, referring to how people can find others to relate to on the internet whether that internet influence is for good or for bad.
President Trump also urged legislatures to consider passing more immigration reforms.
….this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
Notes:
- ^Reuters Editorial. “Trump denounces white supremacy after shootings, cites video games.” U.S, 5 Aug. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shooting-trump/trump-denounces-white-supremacy-after-shootings-cites-video-games-and-internet-idUSKCN1UV1L9?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews. (go back ↩)
- ^Breuninger, Kevin. “Trump condemns ‘racism, bigotry and white supremacy’ in speech after mass shootings kill 29.” CNBC, 5 Aug. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/08/05/trump-condemns-racism-bigotry-and-white-supremacy.html. (go back ↩)
