Indiana Senators' Statements Following Texas, Ohio Mass Shootings

Two attacks 1,300 miles apart — at a packed shopping center in El Paso, Texas , and a popular nightlife stretch in Dayton, Ohio — killed 31 people and injured dozens more Aug. 3 and Aug. 4. They renewed discussion on where to lay the blame for the growing list of mass shootings in the United States.

Indiana's U.S. senators offered the following responses.

Todd Young (R-Indiana)

Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana) issued the following statement on Sunday:

“We are all heartbroken for the victims of these terrible acts of hate. I pray for those who were injured and for the families of those who lost loved ones. And I am sincerely grateful to the first responders and law enforcement officers who acted swiftly. There is no place in this country for hate of any kind – period.

“The President rightfully spoke out against acts of racially motivated violence and we must, as a nation, do more. That starts by grappling with the underlying disease in our communities: ideologies of hate, mental derangement, and a loss of respect for human life.”

Young followed up Monday with a comment on the underlying causes of gun violence, and support of Indiana's red flag law: 

“Clearly we have multiple problems in this country – problems of hate, social alienation, and the devaluing of human life – and we’re going to have to work together as a nation to address these challenges. I think Indiana has done a good job with respect to our red flag law and that’s something that needs to be part of the conversation moving forward across the country.”

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana)

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana) issued the following statement on Sunday:

“Maureen and I are deeply troubled by the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton — there is no place for hate in our great country, our prayers are with the victims of this horrific event, and I commend the swift action from law enforcement and first responders.

“Mass shootings and gun violence across our country is a complex situation; watching Congress do nothing is unacceptable, and I agree with President Trump’s call for bipartisan legislation to address this crisis. Any bipartisan legislation needs to include: stronger background checks, red flag laws known as extreme risk protection orders that address mental illness, commonsense solutions that complement the Trump administration’s ban on bump stocks so we can crack down on modifications that turn guns into military-style assault weapons, and steps that are responsive to a culture that glorifies violence. 

“We live in the greatest country in the world, but the tone and destructive rhetoric across the ideological spectrum is tearing our country apart and we must return to a society that works towards finding common ground on issues where we disagree.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report