Shockwaves were sent throughout the nation after the attempted assassination of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a rally held in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
While the investigation into the incident is ongoing, it is believed the 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, acted alone.
Scaling the ladder of a nearby building with an AR style rifle, Crooks got as close as 148 yards to where the former president was speaking before shots rang out causing a stir of chaos. Secret Service agents swarmed Trump, blood trickling down his ear from a bullet wound.
Seconds later Secret Service snipers shot Crooks, killing him. The FBI has not yet determined a clear motive behind the shooting.
Local officials, both Republican and Democrat, spoke with the Idaho State Journal about the attempted assassination, sharing their reactions to the shooting and the growing political divide in the United States.
“I was abhorred and shocked,” said Rick Cheatum, Pocatello City Council member and Republican state lawmaker. “I don’t think any political discussion should ever devolve to the point that consideration is made of assassination of someone. That is absolutely ridiculous. It’s happened a number of times in our history and every time it’s been a true tragedy. I am shocked that this would happen.”
Cheatum continued, “I think we need to be very careful about the knee jerk reaction to a situation like this. I think we need to think about the motivations of the shooter and what they were trying to accomplish. If there was some kind of accomplishment, I hope it was, in fact, a lone, single person who did this and this wasn’t some sort of planned event. I think people need to stop and think about the consequences and what it could mean to our country if this is the way we begin to resolve political differences. If that’s the case, I would find it absolutely tragic.”
State Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-Inkom, also commented on the vitriolic nature of the current political climate and the need for civility.
“I think we can express gratitude that something more serious didn’t happen to the presumptive nominee and former president,” Guthrie said. “I think we can also use it to help maybe temper some of the things that we are experiencing in the state, because the political rhetoric and the combative nature of politics has just ramped up over the last few years. Maybe this is a time to reset and recalibrate and try to be grateful for our country, be grateful for what we have and be grateful for those who are willing to serve on both sides of the political aisle — maybe embrace that a little more and migrate away from the name calling and the unfortunate political rhetoric that just seems to be all too prevalent.”
Local lawmaker Nate Roberts, D-Pocatello, also spoke on the contentious nature of politics and the rising tide of violence.
“It’s absolutely horrifying,” Roberts said. “The fact that people are resorting to violence for political needs is just not an appropriate reaction. I would definitely hope that we are better than this. I think even former president Trump has noticed that the rhetoric has gotten to the point now where violence is being seen as the answer. It wasn’t just Trump that created that. We’ve seen political violence in recent years.... There’s been efforts to use violence to answer questions for political reasons previously, but it definitely seems to be getting worse instead of getting better.”
Roberts continued, “The divide is because we’re unwilling to have face-to-face conversations. We’ve been so separated by social media or the World Wide Web. I think it’s kind of created this perceived division. When I talk to voters from all parties, I’m able to find an area where we have common ground and common interests.”
Democrat Hayden Paulsen, Pocatello City Council member, also reflected on the political strife that’s rampant in America.
“I thought it was very unfortunate that it’s come to this point that people feel that is the answer to the divisiveness in our country,” Paulsen said. “If people want to escalate something like this, I don’t think that’s an outcome that anybody wants with mass upheaval. The people who glorify situations like a potential civil war, I think that it’s wildly inappropriate and irresponsible to encourage that. Otherwise, I am hopeful, because I hope it makes people actually realize we can have conversations. You don’t have to leap to the bullet to get your point across.”
Paulsen continued, “I really want to emphasize to people, whether you’re at state level, city level, nationwide, any escalation of this is not good for anybody. I think we all need to have calm minds and discuss it with our neighbors like we’re supposed to. Stay cool, calm and collected and we can do it together.”
Despite all the political friction, mudslinging and renewed vigor for violence, local officials all seem to agree there are proper avenues for change — that the American public can put aside their differences and open a dialogue where they can find commonality in a discordant world.
Most Popular
Comments / 0