Trump calls Las Vegas shooting ‘an act of pure evil’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called for unity and prayer in the aftermath of “an act of pure evil,” somberly addressing the nation from the White House on Monday hours after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Trump, visibly moved and reading carefully from a teleprompter, announced that he would visit Las Vegas on Wednesday. That visit to the scene of a man-made disaster will follow his trip on Tuesday to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico, amid criticism that he and his administration have been slow to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria nearly two weeks ago and have been antagonistic to critics.
The Las Vegas shooter “brutally murdered more than 50 people and wounded hundreds more. It was an act of pure evil,” Trump said.
Trump’s tone was a far different one than Americans are used to seeing from the president, who tends toward provocation and finger-pointing even at times of distress or tragedy, like a mass shooting in Florida during the 2016 campaign. Instead of his typical tweets, Trump first spoke to the nation and then he and first lady Melania Trump led a national moment of silence on the White House’s South Lawn. Also there were Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and scores of employees — from wellknown West Wing advisers to kitchen staff members.
At least in the initial stages of investigation and mourning, the White House was eager to steer clear of policy discussions, resisting calls from Democratic leaders in Congress to address gun control.
In recent years Congress has repeatedly been unable to advance legislation to limit firearm ownership, even after mass shootings like the 2012 massacre of 20 firstgraders and six school staff in Newtown, Conn., and the one in June when a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers at morning baseball practice ahead of a charity game. Republicans, who control Congress and the White House, generally oppose gun restrictions.
On the contrary, the only guns-related proposal with serious traction in Washington, one that predated the shooting, would loosen gun restrictions by making it easier to purchase suppressors, often called silencers. House Republicans remain on track to approve a package of bills backed by the National Rifle Association that includes the silencer provision, though no vote has been scheduled.
Supporters say silencers can prevent hearing damage among hunters. Opponents argue that making silencers more prevalent could worsen the impact of mass shootings, by making it more difficult to react to the violence or detect where shots are coming from.
Former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton made that argument on MSNBC on Monday. “I’ve been a police officer for almost 50 years,” he said, and “the lack of regulation in this country defies sanity.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who teared up during her daily press briefing with reporters as she discussed the shooting, declined to weigh in on the silencer bill. She said she had yet to discuss it with the president but reminded reporters of Trump’s strong support for gun rights.
“There is a time and place for political debate, but now is a time to unite as a country,” Sanders said.
She did not rule out a gun control discussion, however. She told reporters that policy issues are “something that we can talk about in the coming days.”
Trump, who appeared downcast as he read his statement in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, praised first responders, saying “the speed with which they acted was miraculous and prevented further loss of life.”
Speaking of the victims and their families suffering the loss of “a parent, a child, a brother or sister,” he said, “We cannot fathom their pain. We cannot imagine their loss.”
During such tragedies, Americans expect a president to provide comfort, and to serve as a unifying figure for the country.
“Our unity cannot be shattered by evil. Our bonds cannot be broken by violence,” he said. “It is our love that defines us today and always will forever.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut who has taken the lead on gun safety issues after the Newtown shooting, urged lawmakers to act against such bill and for gun restrictions.
“This must stop. It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren’t public policy responses to this epidemic,” Murphy said. “It’s time for Congress to get off its ass and do something.”