Leadership on display after D.C. shooting

A shooter who opened fire on Republican lawmakers and staff during an early morning baseball practice shows how volatile the political climate has become across America. ...

Had it not been for the quick reaction and heroism of Capitol police officers, who were able to gun down the shooter after being wounded themselves, we could be writing about a massacre today.

As is, five people were wounded, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, 51, the third-ranking Republican in the House. He was shot in the hip. A former and current congressional staff aide were also shot along with the two U.S. Capitol police officers.

Some Republicans told the Associated Press none of this should be surprising . ...

... Democrats, meanwhile, blame the continuous bully tone coming from the White House as the reasons for the deep divisions and emotion. Only a day before the shooting, they say Trump labeled congressional Democrats as “obstructionists.” They also cite his demeaning comments about women . ...

... What no one can argue about is the leadership Trump displayed as he found himself playing “healer in chief” on what was supposed to be a quiet 71st birthday. Shortly after learning of the shooting, Trump wisely huddled with Vice President Mike Pence in the West Wing to make sure the administration issued the proper response.

What followed was a somber four-minute address in which the president called for national unity.

“We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capital is here because, above all, they love our country,” Trump said . ...

Read the full editorial from the Lima News at bit. ly/2tlFfCV