President Donald Trump called for capital punishment for those convicted of carrying out hate crimes following two mass shootings over the weekend.
“Our nation is overcome with shock, horror, and sorrow,” Trump said on Aug. 5 at the White House. “We are outraged and sickened by this monstrous evil.”
The president, standing beside Vice President Mike Pence, said that white supremacy should be condemned and defeated.
“In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy,” 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.”
One of the alleged shooters penned a manifesto expressing some white supremacist views. The president called him a “wicked man” and said that criminals convicted of hate crimes should face the death penalty.
He said he wants the Department of Justice to propose legislation “ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty. And that this capital punishment be delivered quickly, decisively, and without years of needless delay.”
He also said that the Trump administration has told the FBI to look into what it needs to fight against hate crimes and domestic terrorism.
“We must recognize that the internet has provided a dangerous avenue to radicalize disturbed minds and perform demented acts. We must shine light on the dark recesses of the internet and stop mass murders before they start.”
He later said the Department of Justice has been directed to work with local governments and social media companies to detect possible mass shooters before they strike.
“The perils of the internet and social media cannot be ignored and they will not be ignored,” Trump added.
“We cannot allow ourselves to feel powerless. We can and will stop this evil contagion,” he continued, noting the number of mass shootings in the country since Columbine.
He said that the glorification of violence should be stemmed, citing violent video games, and reform mental health laws to better identity mentally disturbed people who may carry out acts of violence. They should be treated and, in some cases, be involuntarily committed.
Trump expressed support for so-called red flag laws, which enable judges and law enforcement to identify dangerous individuals and take away their guns temporarily and, sometimes, for good.
Authorities to Seek Death Penalty for El Paso Shooter
While the Dayton shooting suspect was shot dead by police, the El Paso shooting suspect was captured alive.
Authorities said they’d seek to put him to death.
Authorities said on Sunday that they’re pursuing the case as domestic terrorism.
“The state charge is capital murder, and so he is eligible for the death penalty,” El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza said during a press conference. “We will seek the death penalty. The loss of life is so great, we certainly have never seen this in our community.”
Patrick Crusius, 21, allegedly shot 20 people dead and wounded 26 others at a Walmart in the city.
A manifesto attributed to him expressed anti-Hispanic views, including labeling the number of immigrants in Texas as “an invasion.”
“Inaction is a choice I can no longer bear the shame of inaction knowing that our founding fathers have endowed me with the rights needed to save our country from the brink [of] destruction,” he wrote.