President Donald Trump has called for Congress to bring in strong background checks and immigration reform in response to two mass shootings over the weekend that left 29 people dead and dozens more injured.
“We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain,” Trump wrote on Twitter early Aug. 5. “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!” he added.
The nation is still grappling over the two separate shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, in less than a 24 hour period.
In El Paso, Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott and law enforcement said 20 people were killed and 26 others wounded on Aug. 3 in a shopping center attack. The suspect is currently in custody and his motives are under investigation.
Meanwhile, in Dayton, nine people were killed, including the shooter’s own sister, and 27 more were wounded after a man clad in body armor fired into a downtown district on Aug. 4. He was shot dead by police shortly after opening fire. A motive wasn’t immediately clear.
“We condemn these hateful and cowardly acts,” Trump said in the proclamation. “Through our grief, America stands united with the people of El Paso and Dayton. May God be with the victims of these two horrific crimes and bring aid and comfort to their families and friends.”
“Our nation mourns with those whose loved ones were murdered in the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and we share in the pain and suffering of all those who were injured in these two senseless attacks,” he said.
The president also told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, on his way back to Washington on Aug. 4, that he vowed to take care of the problem and that “hate has no place in our country.”
Trump previously said he wanted to bring in “very strong on background checks” and focus on the mental health of potential gun buyers after meeting survivors and family members of the Parkland, Florida shooting.