Illinois Governor Claims “Anger” Over Gun Violence in the US

Illinois Governor Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker, a Democrat, called on Monday for people to “be angry” about gun violence in the United States, hours after a 22-year-old man killed 6 people and injured others. 25 in a mass shooting in the town of Highland Park.

“I am furious. I am furious that there are more innocent lives taken by gun violence,” Pritzker said, adding that despite the entire country “allowing this to continue to happen.”

Look: Authorities identify perpetrator of Illinois mass shooting as 22-year-old Robert Crimo

The governor assured that he had a conversation with the US president, Joe Biden, who “agreed that this madness must end.”

Pritzker, visibly angry, defended that July 4, Independence Day, is the perfect date to talk about this topic, since violence with firearms has become “a weekly tradition” in the United States.

“Our founding fathers carried muskets, not assault rifles,” said the Democrat to explain that the framers of the US Constitution could not have had the right to buy these types of weapons in mind when they wrote it.

Authorities have identified the perpetrator of the shooting — which took place this morning during a parade to celebrate American Independence Day — as Robert Crimo, a 22-year-old “armed and very dangerous” man who is still on the run.

Although the type of weapon used by the attacker has not yet been revealed – the Police only referred to it as a “high-caliber rifle” – in the videos of the event, interrupted bursts of shots can be heard, which several witnesses considered moments weapon reloading.

The debate on access to firearms was reactivated as a result of the shooting in Uvalde (Texas), where 19 children and 2 teachers lost their lives at the hands of an 18-year-old attacker armed with a semi-automatic rifle that he had bought legally, little over a month.

The event helped Democratic and Republican representatives agree to approve a package of measures to deal with violence with weapons in the country, which includes a revision of the process of purchasing weapons for those under 21 years of age, but does not prohibit assault rifles, which is one of the main demands of progressives, including Biden.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.