Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Tuesday doubled his comments that Congress “won’t solve” the problem of school shootings, saying the country needs a “real revival” rather than gun control legislation.
Earlier this week, a gunman attacked the Covenant School in Nashville, killing six people, including three children. After the killing spree, the third school shooting In the country, lawmakers returned to their well-worn positions this year in responding to gun violence. Democrats called for tougher gun control laws with President Joe Biden calls on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons. Some Republicans shifted the blame away from guns and pointed to them instead Sagittarius gender identity and insanity.
“If you want to decree evil, it just won’t happen,” Burchett said. “We need a real revival in this country. Let us call on our Christian preachers and our believers.”
He added: “If you think Washington will solve this problem, you are wrong. They will not fix this problem. You are the problem.”
Burchett had come under fire after being attacked viral tweet showed him claiming after the shooting, “We’re not going to fix it,” when asked what Congress would do about school shootings.
“Criminals will remain criminals,” Burchett said, comparing the situation to his father fighting people determined to kill him in World War II. When asked if there were other steps lawmakers could take to protect kids like his daughter, Burchett replied, “Well, we homeschool them.”
After a mass shooting last May in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers, Congress passed some gun control measures, the first movement on this issue in years. However, several Conservative lawmakers have expressed reluctance to tighten gun control measures in the wake of the recent mass shootings.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has criticized GOP lawmakers who have opposed banning semi-automatic weapons.
“It’s unacceptable for Republicans to say there’s nothing we can do,” she said at Wednesday’s news conference.
When asked if he was concerned that other countries don’t have American levels of gun violence, Burchett said, “Other countries don’t have our freedom either. It’s the United States of America.”
In response to Burchett’s remarks in a House speech, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said, “Democrats have a different view” and called for the passage of universal background checks.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Source : news.yahoo.com