Shortly after the July 4th parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois that left 7 dead and dozens injured, the tragic incident turned political. State and local Democratic leaders made the incident about gun violence and how guns needed to be restricted. Now Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) is claiming Republicans want mass shootings to become part of everyday life.
While many speeches were made by local officials, Democrats nationally made remarks to further push for a ban on assault weapons. Lake County State Attorney Eric Rinehart even referenced the 1994 ban on assault weapons and claims that it is the next step America needs to take.
Rep. Wasserman-Schultz voiced her support of gun control but also explicitly stated that "Extremist Republicans," want mass shootings to keep occurring.
In a Tweet after the shooting, the congresswoman wrote, "Extremist Republicans want the [Highland Park] mass shooting to be America's new normal. Democrats refuse to give in to the NRA lobby! Let's band together to take stronger, common-sense gun safety measures."
Extremist Republicans want the #HighlandPark mass shooting to be America's new normal.
Democrats refuse to give in to the NRA lobby!
Let's band together to take stronger, common-sense gun safety measures.
It starts with #VoteBlue2022.https://t.co/pAg72bCmuK
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) July 6, 2022
While many could brush off the comments as simple hyperbole, this is not Rep. Wasserman-Schultz's first run in with making drastic claims. Previously, The Floridian reported when Wasserman Schultz accused Fox News of spreading propaganda about the COVID-19 vaccine. The South Florida representative also labeled gender confirmation surgery, "life saving."
For mass shootings in particular, Wasserman Schultz continues blaming Republicans for random acts of violence. Back in 2019 after a mass shooting in El Paso, TX, the congresswoman blamed then-President Trump (R) for inciting the violence on the grounds of his "white supremacist extremism," adding, "the pain & fear from this shooting fueled by white supremacist extremism is very deep and very present in my community & communities across the country."
