At least 26 people died when a gunman opened fire on a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, November 5. Still, Trump said that the worst mass shooting in Texas modern history is "not a guns situation." The same man who days ago called for the death penalty for the man who plowed a truck into pedestrians in New York City, killing eight, won't even acknowledge that a larger issue of a lack of gun control contributed to the mass shooting of more than 40 people by one man with a gun.
Instead, Trump diverted the conversation that must be started about gun control to one about mental illness (which he's not doing anything to help either, by the way):
In the wake of the news about the Texas church shooting, a reporter asked Trump what policies he would support to reduce violence like that. This was his response: "I think that mental health is your problem here." He calls the shooter a "very deranged individual" who had "a lot of problems over a long period of time." We know what you're thinking: Then how did he get a gun?! Trump continued, actually saying the words, "This isn't a guns situation. I mean, we could go into it, but it's a little bit soon to go into it ... This is a mental health problem at the highest level." We know what you're thinking: Soon? There have been almost 400 mass shootings in 2017 alone. It's beyond too late.ÂFormer White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for some reason thought it would be a useful thing to express that he agreed with the president:
@GMB exclusive with Trump's former press sec @seanspicer 'I agree with the President this isn't a gun issue this individual had problems'— Charlotte Hawkins (@Charlotte Hawkins)1509953050.0
Not to mention, Trump using "mental health" as a scapegoat doesn't work at all.
Reminder: In February, Trump signed a bill that revoked Obama-era gun checks for people with mental illnesses… https://t.co/jYYOmO0sIM— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin)1509986046.0
The reactions to Trump's statement about the Texas church shooting reveal numerous inconsistencies and prejudices in Trump's rhetoric and beliefs:
Why does the man who plowed into eight pedestrians in NYC deserve the death penalty but the man who shot dozens more in a Texas church simply suffer from a mental health problem? We'll give you one hint: The man in the NYC's attack is an immigrant named Sayfullo Saipov, and the Texas shooter was a local resident named Devin Patrick Kelley. Need another hint? Donald Trump is racist.There's another pesky fact that proves this mass shooting is — like all other mass shootings — an issue of guns:
Aurora: AR-15 Orlando: AR-15 Las Vegas: AR-15 Sandy Hook: AR-15 Umpqua CC: AR-15 San Bernardino: AR-15 Sutherland Springs: AR-15— Michael Skolnik (@Michael Skolnik)1509926630.0
Piers Morgan tweeted out his incredulity at Trump's statement.
Not a guns situation? 46 people just got shot in church with a gun. https://t.co/DaNKRCz3Za— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan)1509952442.0
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy also made a powerful statement following the shooting. Murphy has been an extraordinarily strong voice for gun control since Sandy Hook, which happened in his home state.
Senator Chris Murphy's response to the Sutherland Springs shooting. It's well worth the read. https://t.co/9CfEB2OM4p— Greg Hogben (@Greg Hogben)1509920037.0