Page 10 - HOSPITAAL

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 14 June 2018

A year after shooting, GOP lawmakers hold firm on gun rights

By MATTHEW DALY and from pine trees near the
LAURIE KELLMAN field, he said. "You don't
Associated Press forget it. ... I'm a Second
WASHINGTON (AP) — In Amendment guy. I'm a life-
the year since House Ma- time member of the NRA.
jority Whip Steve Scalise I'm a Texan, and I grew up
and others were shot at with guns."
a congressional baseball The shooting "doesn't
practice, mass shootings change my mind. It just re-
have occurred at a Texas minds me how important
church, a Las Vegas music it is to reach out to those
festival and high schools in that would wake up think-
Parkland, Florida, and San- ing, 'I'm going to kill some-
ta Fe, Texas. body,'" Williams said.
Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup, But there was at least one
a doctor who helped save lawmaker on the field that
Scalise's life last June, has day who said the Alexan-
watched those attacks un- dria shooting has affected
fold with the acute sensitiv- the way he thinks about
ity of a mass shooting survi- gun policy.
vor. Each shooting is jarring, "It's moved me," said Sen.
says Wenstrup — calling Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, who
the Parkland shooting in is retiring after this year. He
particular sickening — but said he now supports re-
his views on gun control strictions on high-capacity
have not changed. magazines, for instance,
"If not for a gun — two guns "but that hasn't come up" in
really — being used on our debate. Still, "there's been
side" by two Capitol Police a shift" for him personally,
officers at the GOP prac- he said.
tice, "you might have seen In this March 6, 2018 file photo, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise speaks at the 2018 American Meanwhile, Scalise, who
20 dead people," Wenstrup Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington. has been walking with
says. "That tells you where Associated Press crutches or a cane, said
I'm coming from." he's eager to reclaim his
That sentiment is wide- view this week. care issue, particularly us," Fleischmann said of the position as starting second
spread among Republi- As he and other lawmak- mental health. gunman, who was killed in baseman.
cans, who say the attack ers prepare for the annual "We need to address homi- a shootout with police. "Being able to walk out
has only strengthened their congressional baseball cide in America and what's Texas Rep. Roger Williams, onto that field again on
commitment to protecting game at Nationals Park on driving it, and certainly gun who is coaching the Re- Thursday night with my uni-
gun rights. Thursday night — the an- violence is a part of that," publican team playing form is going to be a spe-
Scalise, of Louisiana, suf- niversary of the shooting he said in an interview. "I Thursday, said the shoot- cial, special moment," he
fered life-threatening inju- — Scalise said he's com- think every school, every ing "changed everybody's told Fox News Channel this
ries in the June 2017 shoot- fortable with the actions place where people gath- life," including his. Williams week.
ing but returned to work Congress has taken on gun er, has to take a look at sprained his ankle trying to The GOP team held an
last fall. He said the shoot- safety, including measures their security." get away from the shooter, initial practice this year at
ing "deepened my ap- to strengthen the federal Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and his aide Zack Barth was the field in Alexandria, Vir-
preciation for the Second background check system R-Tenn., who was on the among those wounded. ginia, where the shooting
Amendment because it for gun purchases and im- field during the shooting, "It just reminded me that occurred, but has since
was people with guns who prove school safety. said it reinforced his view God's in control and how moved to a separate field
saved my life and every Scalise said he sees no that officials need to com- fleeting life is," Williams said. in Washington with in-
other member out there." need to go further. bat violence in all forms, "And what's important and creased security.
If Capitol Police officers "Taking away the rights of whether it is someone with what's not important. And The additional security
David Bailey and Crystal law-abiding citizens is not a gun, knife or bomb. how divided our country is "makes us feel great and
Griner had not been there the answer. Again, it was "Many times it's mental ill- politically, when somebody more secure," Fleischmann
with guns to counter the law-abiding citizens with ness," Fleischmann said, would do that." said, "but I hope and pray
shooter, "then there would guns that saved my life and adding that the FBI told Williams said he relates to we can get to a time and
have been nobody to take many others," he said. lawmakers in a closed-door what the mass shooting place where we can go
him down and he would Wenstrup, a former Army briefing that the gunman victims in Las Vegas and to a ball field and feel safe
have just been able to combat surgeon in Iraq, was intent on "suicide by elsewhere are feeling. again. That's the America I
come and pick us apart," says he wants to approach cop." "I won't lose that sound in grew up in, and I hope we
Scalise said in a brief inter- gun violence as a health "Unfortunately, he targeted my mind" of bullets flying can get back to that."q