Udall Responds to President Trump's Comments on El Paso, Dayton Shootings

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall responded to President Trump's comments in the wake of the El Paso and Dayton shootings. Earlier today, President Trump tweeted that congressional action on gun violence should be paired with action on the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Udall issued the following statement:

"In the wake of an act of anti-immigrant, white supremacist terror, President Trump is now proposing that any action to prevent gun violence should be paired with restrictions on immigration. The president's suggestion is offensive, and it validates and fuels the same kind of anti-immigrant bigotry that was behind the evil El Paso attack. Insisting that sensible gun safety measures be paired with the president's anti-immigrant agenda is tantamount to giving into the hateful ideology that motivated this terrorist attack -- that immigrants are somehow to blame for this white supremacist violence.

"The president's proposal to link action on gun violence with his toxic immigration wish-list, is likely nothing more than an attempt to ensure that Congress continues to do nothing on guns. But the American people cannot afford more inaction. Senate Majority Leader McConnell has had months to act on the bills passed by the House to expand background checks, address gun violence, and save lives. How many more tragedies will it take before Republican leadership stops standing in the way of action to address this epidemic?"

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