Mitch McConnell Says Federal Government Can't Do Much To Stop School Shootings
- 6 years ago
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday suggested that the federal government cannot do much to stop school shootings.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday suggested that the federal government cannot do much to stop school shootings. McConnell addressed the matter while speaking to community leaders in Danville, Kentucky, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. "I don't think at the federal level there's much that we can do other than appropriate funds," he said. "You would think, given how much it takes to get on an American plane or given how much it takes to get into courthouses, that this might be something that we could achieve, but I don't think we could do that from Washington, I think it's basically a local decision," McConnell further commented. He also noted, "It's a darn shame that's where we are, but this epidemic is something that's got all of our attention." There have been a number of suggestions about how the federal government could potentially curb the problem. "The GOP-controlled Congress has opposed Democratic calls to pass tighter gun laws such as universal background checks," notes NBC News.
McConnell's remarks come days after the Capital Gazette newsroom shooting, which claimed the lives of five people.
While President Trump pledged his administration's support to the victims' families after the incident, he did not make any specific mention of the nation's gun laws.
"My government will not rest until we have done everything in our power to reduce violent crime and to protect innocent life," Trump said in a delivered statement last week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday suggested that the federal government cannot do much to stop school shootings. McConnell addressed the matter while speaking to community leaders in Danville, Kentucky, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. "I don't think at the federal level there's much that we can do other than appropriate funds," he said. "You would think, given how much it takes to get on an American plane or given how much it takes to get into courthouses, that this might be something that we could achieve, but I don't think we could do that from Washington, I think it's basically a local decision," McConnell further commented. He also noted, "It's a darn shame that's where we are, but this epidemic is something that's got all of our attention." There have been a number of suggestions about how the federal government could potentially curb the problem. "The GOP-controlled Congress has opposed Democratic calls to pass tighter gun laws such as universal background checks," notes NBC News.
McConnell's remarks come days after the Capital Gazette newsroom shooting, which claimed the lives of five people.
While President Trump pledged his administration's support to the victims' families after the incident, he did not make any specific mention of the nation's gun laws.
"My government will not rest until we have done everything in our power to reduce violent crime and to protect innocent life," Trump said in a delivered statement last week.