AR-15

Trump’s indefensible response to the synagogue shooting draws outrage

https://mashable.com/article/donald-trump-synagogue-shooting-comments-blame-shifting/

“If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better.”

That’s what Donald Trump had to say after learning of a shooting that occurred at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. He thinks that good guys with guns — whether in the congregation or via hired security — could have stopped this bad guy with a gun.

Instead of making the easy choice to condemn the violent actions that led to multiple deaths, the President of the United States paraphrased an NRA talking point.

Keith Boykin@keithboykin
Trump says Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh has “little to do with” gun laws, says the synagogue should have “had some kind of a protection” inside the temple, and later blames synagogue for not having armed guards.

Trump made a different kind of easy choice here. He doesn’t care about this country. He doesn’t care about his “base,” the voters who still support him despite his active efforts to make many of their lives worse. He only cares about himself. And there’s money to be made in keeping the NRA happy.

So he shifted the blame. It’s not the gunman who strode into a synagogue during Saturday morning Shabbat services who’s at fault. It’s the synagogue for not hardening itself against such threats.

His critics on Twitter saw right through it of course, just like they always do. The outraged response Trump drew won’t change his behavior in the slightest, but here’s yet another receipt, another example of wounded voters struggling to comprehend the evil actions of their president, added to the pile.

Shannon Watts@shannonrwatts
Donald Trump just said the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting has little to do with gun laws and if they’d had “protection,” they may have survived.

What kind of human blames victims for their own deaths because they were unarmed during a bris? One who took $30 million from the @NRA.

Shannon Watts@shannonrwatts
Soon, @NRA lapdogs will say that the Jewish Americans celebrating a bris in the basement of their Pittsburgh synagogue should have been armed. Shame them. Shun them.

The Second Amendment is a framework for lawmaking, not a suicide pact. Our lawmakers have the power to stop this.

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America.

Ryan Guillory Sr.@Mr_RyanGuillory
No need to worry people Trump has the answer. They should have had armed #Jewish worshipers in the Synagogue. That would have solved everything. Too bad the three armed cops who was shot didn’t think of that. I wonder how much is the #NRA paying Trump?

Bradley P. Moss@BradMossEsq
So in Trump’s fantasy world, this is our new reality:

Armed security in every place of worship.

Armed security in every school. In every grocery story. Every restaurant. Every YMCA. Every JCC. Every bar. Every dance club. Every Starbucks.

There has to be a better idea.

Jamil Smith@JamilSmith
Trump says that the synagogue should have had “protection.” There was reportedly a bris going on. A baby was being circumcised. He would have us believe that this sacred event is one for which congregants should have thought to have armed security present.

Bros4America@Bros4America
The $20 million @NRA recipient @realDonaldTrump just blamed on live TV right now the Pittsburgh synagogue because they don’t have an armed security. Unbelievable.

Philip Gourevitch@PGourevitch
“This is likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States.” — Anti-Defamation League