WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump condemned the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio as “evil attacks” that are crimes “against all humanity” and said unity must replace hatred in society.
Trump gave the speech from the White House Monday, after a total of 29 people were killed in the shootings over the weekend.
The accused Dayton shooter killed nine people, including his sister, and wounded 27 others before he was killed by police early Sunday morning.
The accused El Paso gunman killed 22 and wounded 24 others Saturday before he was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.
The North Texans allegedly posted a racist manifesto online citing a “Hispanic invasion” before the massacre.
The president said he’s asked the Justice Department to propose legislation so that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty and for the punishment to be dealt swiftly.
He also said the country must make reforms to mental health laws to better identify “mentally disturbed individuals” before a tragedy occurs.
Trump also blamed a culture in which violent video games and “dark recesses” of social media contribute to radicalizing perpetrators of mass shootings.
We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
The President also called on the need for bipartisan support in Congress to get tougher laws passed to help prevent these types of tragedies.
Copyright 2019. Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
