President Donald Trump has praised the “heroes” who shot and killed a gunman seconds after he opened fire on churchgoers in a Texas Church on Sunday.
Two men were killed and a third was hospitalized when 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen opened fire on more than 200 churchgoers after he had sat down alongside other parishioners, joining in their church service.
The president also sent his condolences to the families of the victims, who authorities named as 64-year-old Anton Wallace and 67-year-old Richard White.
“Our prayers are with the families of the victims and the congregation of yesterday’s church attack. It was over in 6 seconds thanks to the brave parishioners who acted to protect 242 fellow worshippers,” Trump said.
Trump also credited new Texas gun laws for preventing any further carnage in the shooting, saying: “Lives were saved by these heroes, and Texas laws allowing them to carry arms.”
The shooting comes after firearm laws in Texas became less restrictive on Sept. 1 when the Senate Bill 535 was passed, allowing licensed handgun owners to carry firearms into places of worship, such as churches, mosques, and synagogues.
Under the bill, licensed handgun owners are also legally allowed to carry their weapons foster homes, public school grounds, and apartment buildings.
“It makes no sense to disarm the good guys and leave law-abiding citizens defenseless where violent offenders break the law to do great harm.
“The existing statute is confusing and clunky when it comes to clearly stating the rights of licensed Texans to carry on the premises of a church,” Campbell added.
“This bill provides clarity of the legislature’s intent to treat churches in the same manner as other privately owned establishments in Texas.”
Meanwhile, a number of politicians in the state have also cited Sunday’s church shooting as an example of how the new gun laws can allow an armed civilian to respond to a mass shooter, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).
Paxton added that he hoped that video footage of the churchgoers firing back at the gunman on Sunday’s attack would prompt other states to pass similar pro-second amendment laws.
“I think it’ll end up saving lives for years and years and years,” he said.
“I’m very hopeful that people can see the evidence and act accordingly.”