President Donald Trump didn’t mince words when he explained what he thinks should happen the perpetrator of the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
President Donald Trump didn’t mince words when he explained what he thinks should happen the perpetrator of the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
On Saturday morning, a gunman entered the synagogue and began shooting, killing 11 and injuring many others, including three first responders. The shooter had a history of posting hateful, anti-Semitic comments on social media.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated that the Department of Justice was working to confirm the crime was a hate crime. On Sunday morning, U. S. Attorney Scott Brady announced that his office would be handling the charges, meaning that the shooter will be charged with federal hate crimes.
U. S. Attorney Scott Brady: “Last night, my office filed federal charges against the defendant Robert Bowers.” https://t.co/qbyTC30FBg pic.twitter.com/uS87BwZf1g
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 28,2018
Because this case now has federal jurisdiction, the death penalty is a definite option for the gunman. Had the jurisdiction stayed in Pennsylvania, it is not clear if the death penalty would be an option because Governor Tom Wolf (D-Pa.) has placed a moratorium on capital punishment.
President Trump made it clear that he supports the use of capital punishment on the gunman.
Asked about ways to prevent violence like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, President Trump suggests stiffening death penalty laws: “I think they should very much bring the death penalty into vogue” https://t.co/rldHevHSsX pic.twitter.com/dCNI8JLfFm
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 27,2018
“You look at the violence all over the world, I mean, the world has violence. The world is a violent world. You think when you’re over it, it just sort of goes away but then it comes back in the form of a madman, a wacko. I think one thing we should do is stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty. When people do this they should get the death penalty and they shouldn’t have to wait years and years.
Now the lawyers will get involved and everyone will get involved and we’ll be 10 years down the line and I think they should stiffen up laws and they should very much bring the death penalty into vogue. Anybody who does a thing like this to innocent people that are in temple or in church — we have so many incidences with churches. They should be, they should really suffer the ultimate price. They should pay the ultimate price.”
President Trump added that he “can’t imagine why” people would disagree that this gunman should be put to death for his crimes.
As for the gunman’s next steps, the U. S. attorneys just filed the charges. His first appearance in court will be on Monday.
