Rhode Island officials react to attempted assassination of former President Trump

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Local officials have come out with comments condemning the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

Sen. Jack Reed said that an attack on a presidential candidate is an “attack on democracy itself:”

Political violence is never acceptable and an attack on a presidential candidate like that is an attack on our democracy itself.  Everyone must condemn this assassination attempt.  Elections are settled at the ballot box, not with bullets.  Violence has no place in politics.  Our hearts go out to the innocent bystander who was killed, victims injured in the crowd, and their families.

This attempted assassination was an ugly, senseless, evil act.

I hope leaders across the political spectrum will use this opportunity to bring people together instead of letting it tear our country apart. We must move forward with greater unity and resolve.

I don’t agree with Donald Trump’s proposals for our country, but I hope he can return to the campaign trail soon.  Let the American people hear everything he has to say and then let them make up their own minds and cast their votes.  That is how a great democracy like the United States of America conducts free and fair elections.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, meanwhile, wished Trump a “fast recovery:”

There is absolutely no place for political violence in a democracy.  As we wait to learn more about what happened, I wish the former president a fast recovery and appreciate law enforcement’s quick response.  I will be keeping the victims and their families in my prayers.

Rep. Seth Magaziner condemned the shooter and urged calm among the American people:

There is no place for political violence of any kind in America, and I condemn whoever is responsible for this attack. I urge everyone to remain calm.

Rep. Gabe Amo called all acts of political violence “reprehensible:”

As details become clearer about the shooting at former President Trump’s rally, one thing that is, and always will be, certain – political violence is as reprehensible as it is un-American.

Thank you to law enforcement for their ongoing response to this incident.