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 “IT’S PAST TIME FOR THE GOP TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY” PODLODOWSKI CONDEMNS REPUBLICAN RHETORIC IN WAKE OF MASS SHOOTINGS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 5, 2019

After mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton over the weekend, President Trump typically blamed the media on Twitter, and then additionally blamed social media and video games for the rise in domestic terrorism during his remarks this morning. In the same address where he condemned white supremacy, President Trump did not acknowledge the more than 2,200 Facebook ads his re-election campaign is spending to promote that deliver the same rhetoric used by the El Paso shooter in his manifesto. Tina Podlodowski, Chair of the Washington State Democrats, issued this statement in response to the President’s remarks:

“It’s past time for the GOP – nationally, and here in Washington State – to take responsibility for their role in this violence. Their party has failed Americans both on an adequate policy response to gun violence and in moral leadership during this time of national mourning. We know that extremist rhetoric from Republicans at every level of government inflames the worst divisions in our culture and creates a permissive environment for this type of violence.

It’s not just Mitch McConnell’s failure to hold a vote on common sense gun violence prevention measures House Democrats passed as HR 8 that makes Republicans culpable for the dozens of deaths this weekend; it’s people like Donald Trump in the White House and Matt Shea right here in Washington State who recklessly encourage their most unstable supporters to take matters into their own hands by using rhetoric like “It’s CRITICAL that we STOP THE INVASION” at the border and promoting “Christian warfare.”

Keeping Americans safe from gun violence shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but it is. I’m proud to have worked to pass some of the most effective gun violence prevention legislation in the nation during my time with the team at the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, and I’m even more proud of our Democratic majorities in Olympia and the majority of Washingtonians who refuse to accept the status quo. Together, we have made common sense solutions like safe storage requirements, universal background checks, a ban on bump stocks, raising the age to purchase firearms, and increased waiting periods for gun purchases the law in Washington.

As Democrats, our words match our deeds: we believe the anger and grief we all feel after these all-too-common tragedies is best channeled into organizing for change at the ballot box. It’s time for Republicans to join us in making Americans safe from gun violence — too many lives are at stake to post platitudes, then hide from action, any longer.”

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