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President Trump Blames Mass Shooting On Violent Video Games And Immigration Reform

Two shooters, one in El Paso, Texas, and one in Dayton, Ohio, killed dozens of people in less than fourteen hours during a weekend of terror in the U.S. The El Paso shooter allegedly posted a racist manifesto to the Internet forum 8chan before his rampage, saying Latinos were invading the United States and would soon overpower white people. On Monday morning, President Trump condemned white supremacy and racism in the wake of the killings.

“Today I am also directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty and that this capital punishment is delivered quickly, decisively…The perils of internet and social media cannot be ignored and will not be ignored,” the president said, blaming “gruesome and grizzly video games” for the “glorification of violence in our society,” Trump said during a press conference.

Trump also addressed the shootings on Twitter, writing, “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 this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!” Trump tweeted.

Other politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, condemned white supremacy and said the scourge of racism must be addressed to stop more mass murders.