Politics

Trump blames ‘mental health problem’ for Texas church massacre

President Trump said the shooting at a Texas church that killed 26 people isn’t a “guns situation” but a “mental health problem at the highest level.”

“I think that mental health is your problem here. This was a very – based on preliminary reports – very deranged individual,” Trump said during a news conference Monday in Japan where he’s meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “A lot of problems over a long period of time. We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries. ”

Asked whether lawmakers should consider gun control in the wake of two mass shootings in just over a month, Trump said not at this time.

“But this isn’t a guns situation. I mean, we could go into it, but it’s a little bit soon to go into it,” the president said. ” But this is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event. These are great people and a very, very sad event. ”

Devin Patrick Kelley, wearing black “tactical-type gear and a ballistic vest,” opened fire on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs with an assault rifle Sunday.

His victims ranged in age from 5 to 72.

Kelley, 26, who joined the Air Force in 2010, was court-martialed two years later after assaulting his wife and child. He was given a bad conduct discharge from the service and spent a year in military prison.

The carnage carried out in Texas comes just five weeks after a gunman opened fire on an open-air concert in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding more than 500. The Oct. 1 massacre was the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

Trump also refused to discuss gun control after the Vegas shooting.

“We’re not going to talk about that today,” he said at the time. “We won’t talk about that.”

But last week after an Uzbek national used a rented pickup truck to mow down pedestrians and bicyclists on a bike-path in lower Manhattan, killing eight, Trump called for the Department of Homeland Security to step up its “extreme vetting” and called for Congress to end an immigration program the terrorist used to enter the US.

“Being politically correct is fine, but not for this,” he wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the joint news conference with Abe, Trump offered his condolences and prayers to the victims and their families and said Americans always come together in times of tragedy.

“I also want to take a moment to continue sending our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences to the victims of the horrific assault on a church in a beautiful area – so sad – Sutherland Springs, Texas,” he said. “Such a beautiful, wonderful area with incredible people. Who would ever think a thing like this could happen? ”

“In tragic times, Americans always pull together,” he continued. “We are always strongest when we are unified. To the wounded and the families of the victims, all of America is praying for you, supporting you, and grieving alongside of you.”