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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has given a statement on the shooting at the Capital Gazette saying that journalists “shouldn’t fear being violently attacked while doing their job”.
Five people were shot dead after a shooter opened fire at the offices of the Capital Gazette newspaper building in Annapolis, Maryland in the US last night.
The suspect, 38-year-old Jarrod Warren Ramos, had an acrimonious history with the newspaper, including a lawsuit and years of harassment of its journalists on Twitter.
At a press conference today, Trump said:
Before going any further today, I want to address the horrific shooting that took place yesterday at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland. This attack shocked the conscience of our nation, and filled our hearts with grief.
Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job.
Addressing the families of those who had been killed, he said that there were “no words” to express the “horrible horrible event”.
In the aftermath of the shooting, people have been questioning how the incident could have occurred, referencing anti-media and “fake news” tweets from Donald Trump.
Lauren Duca / TwitterThe shooting today in the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland cannot reasonably be separated from the President's mission to villainize the press as "the enemy of the American people."
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) June 28, 2018
Josh Meyer / TwitterEvery journalist, and those who support us, should retweet this. I can't think of a single other President in my lifetime who would have acted like this. Perhaps he fears questions about whether his anti-media rhetoric played a role? https://t.co/xeHRxqcQza
— Josh Meyer (@JoshMeyerDC) June 29, 2018
Kaitlan Collins / TwitterI don’t want to hear the phrase “fake news” ever again.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 29, 2018
Trump’s administration also has a strong pro-gun stance, and is reluctant to increase restrictions on those who are legally allowed to own and carry firearms.
In his statement today, Trump said that his government “will not rest until we have done everything in our power to reduce violent crime”.
‘I need more than prayers’
Earlier today, Capital Gazette Reporter Selene San Felice told CNN that thoughts and prayers, while appreciated weren’t enough.
There I was sitting under a desk, texting my parents telling them I love them,” she said.
“I don’t know what I want right now but I’m going to need more than a couple of days of news coverage and some thoughts and prayers.
Because it’s our whole lives have been shattered. And so thanks for your prayers… but I couldn’t give a fuck about them if there is nothing else.
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