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Monday 5 August 2019

Trump blames mental illness, video games and social media for mass shootings

Donald Trump has blamed America's latest mass shootings on video games, mental illness and social media, after 31 people died in separate attacks in Texas and Ohio over the weekend.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Trump announced plans to try to deal with the problem, including working with social media companies to detect "mass shooters" before they attack.

Mr Trump again stopped short of calling for gun reform and instead focused on mental health support, saying: "Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger - not the gun".

It came as hospital officials said two more people had died after the supermarket shooting in El Paso, Texas, taking the number to 22.

He called for new laws that better identify "mentally disturbed individuals", adding that those people should "not only get treatment, but when necessary, involuntary confinement".

He called the attacks in Texas and Ohio "barbaric", saying they were "crimes against all humanity".

"We are sickened by this monstrous evil, the cruelty, the hatred, the malice, the bloodshed and the terror," added the president.

Mr Trump also called for the US to "condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy".

He criticised the role of "gruesome video games", which he said "celebrate violence" and were "too easy" for young people to get a hold of.

"We are sickened by this monstrous evil, the cruelty, the hatred, the malice, the bloodshed and the terror," added the president.

Mr Trump also called for the US to "condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy".

He criticised the role of "gruesome video games", which he said "celebrate violence" and were "too easy" for young people to get a hold of.

resident Trump said he had asked for new laws so that "those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty and that this capital punishment be delivered quickly, decisively, and without years of needless delay".

Last month, Mr Trump reinstated the federal death penalty for the first time since 2003.

The president tweeted on Monday morning to ask Democrats and Republicans to work together towards a way to stop gun violence.

He reiterated his request in his speech, and said the parties have proven they can work together on the issue, referencing the measures put in place after the Parkland shooting in 2018.

He added: " I am open and ready to listen and discuss all ideas that will actually work and make a very big difference."

At the end of the speech Mr Trump confused people by saying, "May god bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo and may god protect them," rather than in Dayton, where the Ohio attack actually took place.

(Sky News)

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