Washington officials condemned the Buffalo mass shooting and the racist motives behind the attack, with Democrats and at least one retired Republican criticizing political speech. which they say promotes white supremacy.
President Biden on Sunday described the Buffalo attack as a “racially motivated act of white supremacy” and called on the nation to “address the hatred that still bears the brunt of the stigma.” in the soul of America,” a sentiment that Vice President Kamala Harris echoed in her private statement.
“What is clear is that we are witnessing a pandemic of hate across our country,” she said. “We must call it out and condemn it. Racially motivated hate crimes or acts of extreme violence are harmful to all of us.”
California spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the House would pass legislation to “strengthen domestic counterterrorism efforts,” though she did not specify which legislation.
“It’s domestic terrorism,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” calling specifically for the passage of federal legislation to expand gun background checks, which she said was a “big priority.” for the Democratic Party.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, also called the attack “Act of domestic terrorism by a racist, anti-racist white supremacist,” and calling for the passage of “common sense gun safety reform”.
Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat and advocate for the bill, told MSNBC that “after this Buffalo shooting, maybe we have to vote in the Senate or the House of Representatives — give it to someone. Americans see where people stand. ”
But legislation to expand background checks and impose other protections to buy guns has stalled in the equally divided Senate, which needs 60 votes to move forward most of the legislation and Republicans still oppose it. opposite to.
At least one Republican, Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, called the shooting “a reminder of why we don’t toy with white nationalism.” Mr. Kinzinger, who is not running for re-election and has been in constant conflict with his party after the January 6 riots on Capitol Hill, added that “We = everyone (especially the GOP).”
He singled out Representative Elise Stefanik, who represents a congressional district in upstate New York, as “promoting white substitution theory”, referring to Advertisement paid for by Ms. Stefanik’s campaign resounded the far right comment about alternative theory. (Ms. Stefanik on Saturday offered condolences to the victims of the attack, calling it a “Horrible loss of life.”)
Alex deGrasse, Stefanik’s senior adviser, said Sunday that the congresswoman “never supported any racist views or made racist statements”.
He added that “the shooting was an act of evil, and criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Mr. Biden, arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday morning, said he has yet to speak to the families of the victims. Earlier, he said he wasn’t sure if he would be able to visit Buffalo before his scheduled trip to Asia this week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday said the shooting was an act of terrorism, but did not say whether the Biden administration would support new federal legislation criminalizing domestic terrorism.
“Obviously we don’t know all the details that fit the legal definitions,” Buttigieg said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“What we do know is someone went a long way with an AR-15 to hunt people, hunt black people. We need to make sure that we eradicate that kind of hate. ”
