5 August
Mass shootings on both Saturday and Sunday have shocked people in the United States and renewed debate on gun control.The first shooting occurred in the border city of El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.
At around 10 a.m., a 21-year-old white man fired at shoppers at a Walmart store. Police detained the suspect after he killed 20 people and wounded 26.Authorities suspect that it was a hate crime motivated by racial, religious and other prejudices. They searched the suspect's home in Texas for possible motives and to find out where he got the gun.
About 13 hours later there was another mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio.A 24-year-old white man shot and killed nine people and wounded 27 others at a restaurant. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police.
On Sunday afternoon, Trump told reporters that hate has no place in the US. He said the shootings are part of "a mental illness problem."
Regarding gun control, he said the White House has done much more than most administrations, but that more has to be done. Trump is said not to have been keen on tighter gun laws.The president will reportedly issue a formal statement on Monday.The White House currently has the US flag at half-
mast.
-NHK
