'NO PLACE IN AMERICA'
Donald Trump says US must condemn white supremacy following mass shootings in El Paso and Ohio
US President Donald Trump says his country must condemn bigotry, racism and white supremacy, following mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, he called the mass shootings "evil attacks" that are crimes "against all humanity" and said unity must replace hatred in society.
2
2
On Saturday, a gunman killed 20 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, in what authorities said appeared to be a racially motivated hate crime.
Just 13 hours later, another gunman in downtown Dayton, Ohio, killed nine people.
Dozens also were wounded in the attacks.
It later emerged El Paso killer Patrick Crusius posted a racist “manifesto” on the message board 8chan shortly before his murder spree.
Today, speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said: "These sinister ideologies must be defeated.
"Hate has no place in America.
"Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul."
Trump said he was directing the Department of Justice to investigate domestic terrorism and will propose laws to ensure those committing hate crimes and mass murders faced the death penalty.
And he called on Washington to "come together" and "get strong background checks" for gun users.
But he provided no details on what sort of legislation he would support.
Trump, tweeting earlier, said: "We can never forget them, and those many who came before them."
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Democrat-led House has passed a gun control bill that includes fixes to the nation's firearm background check system, but it has languished in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Trump suggested today that a background check bill could be paired with his long-sought effort to toughen the nation's immigration system.
But again he didn't say how.
Officials say mass shooting in El Paso, Texas was fueled by 'racism and hatred' as they confirm 20 killed and 26 wounded
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics