Closing summary
That’s it for the US live politics blog. Here’s what happened today:
Earlier today, the Nashville police department gave a press conference about Monday’s shooting at a local elementary school, where three children and three adults were killed.
A federal judge has ordered Mike Pence to testify in a special counsel investigation on Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, though Pence is able to appeal the ruling.
Joe Biden commented on his ability to get gun control passed in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting. Biden said that he is only able to “plead with Congress” to act and pass gun control measures.
Democrats are apparently weighing legislative options in the face of Monday’s shooting, including a discharge petition which could bring legislation to the floor. But Democratic leadership has not provided a timeline to when or if they plan on doing so.
Republicans, including Tennessee governor Bill Lee, have been accused of hypocrisy for providing their condolences following Monday’s shooting but refusing to support gun control measures.
Thank you for reading. Join us tomorrow for more updates!
Nashville police department give press conference about Monday's shooting
Earlier today, the Nashville police department provided more updates on the shooter who killed three children and three adults at an area elementary school on Monday.
According to the police, the 28-year-old shooter had legally purchased seven guns. The firearms were hidden from the shooter’s parents as the shooter resided in the family home.
The shooter’s parents believed that the shooter owned one gun that had been sold.
The shooter used three of the purchased guns to carry out the massacre on Monday at Covenant school, where they were a former student. The shooter had reportedly been receiving treatment for an “emotional disorder”, reported Reuters.
The shooter left behind a detailed map of the school as well as what police are describing as a “manifesto”, which indicated that the shooter may have had plans to target other locations.
Before carrying out the shooting, the shooter messaged Averianna Patton, a friend and former basketball teammate, writing: “Something bad is about to happen.”
Patton told Nashville’s News Channel 5 that she notified police about the message, but said that police showed a lack of urgency.
Updated
Here are more highlights from Biden’s remarks from NPR’s Asma Khalid:
Biden came to North Carolina to speak about the economy but begins with guns.
— Asma Khalid (@asmamk) March 28, 2023
“We need to act, these are weapons of war,” Biden says, adding - I never thought when I started my public life guns would be the number one killer of children.
“People say, why do I keep saying this if it’s not happening?” Biden said, referring to his frequent pleas for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. “Because I want you to know who isn’t doing it, who isn’t helping, to put pressure on them.” pic.twitter.com/rTbCAdQCYp
— Asma Khalid (@asmamk) March 28, 2023
Biden spoke about yesterday’s mass shooting in Nashville while giving remarks at a semiconductor facility in North Carolina about his Investing in America agenda, his administration’s plan to increase job growth.
Biden spoke on the shooting in Nashville, adding that the victims’ families deserve action on gun control and “more than a prayer”, referring to thoughts and prayers that are usually offered after such events.
"Those children should still be with us," President Biden, visiting North Carolina for an event, says of Nashville's mass shooting. "As a nation, we owe these families more than a prayer. We owe them action."
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) March 28, 2023
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer responded to questions about whether an assault weapons ban would come to the floor for a vote.
During remarks to the press, Schumer said that legislators were “working hard” to get enough votes for a ban to be passed, but declined to give a timeline on if a vote would happen on the issue soon.
“Look, as you know, I care passionately about this. I’m the author of the bill that passed in 1994. And we’re working hard to get enough votes to pass it,” said Schumer.
Schumer asked by @caphilltrish if he would bring the assault weapons van to the floor: “Look, as you know, I care passionately about this. I'm the author of the bill that passed in 1994. And we're working hard to get enough votes to pass it.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) March 28, 2023
Updated
Florida representative Maxwell Frost called Republicans “cowards” for their failure to pass gun control.
Discussing the Nashville shooting, Maxwell called out “politicians in this chamber that have been bought and paid for by the NRA” for not addressing the issue of gun violence seriously.
“It is likely that at this moment, the next mass shooter is planning their shooting. What will this chamber do about it,” said Frost.
Rep. Maxwell Frost called GOP House members "cowards" yesterday in a floor speech following the school shooting in Nashville that left three kids and three adults dead.
— POLITICO (@politico) March 28, 2023
Frost blamed “politicians in this chamber that have been bought and paid for by the NRA.” pic.twitter.com/y4HAWEESiB
Read the Guardian’s September 2022 profile of Frost here.
The Georgia Democratic party (GDP) has put out a statement denouncing Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s upcoming speech at a local gun shop following yesterday’s shooting in Nashville.
Representative Nikema Williams, who is also chair of the GDP, called on DeSantis to cancel the upcoming stop in Smyrna, Georgia, according to a statement from Williams published Tuesday:
Holding a campaign event at a gun store days after another horrific school shooting where innocent children were murdered should be beyond the pale, but Ron DeSantis seems to not care.
DeSantis is showing Georgians exactly where his priorities lie as he advocates for an extreme MAGA agenda that could make it easier for criminals to carry guns in Florida and puts the gun lobby ahead of our children’s lives. DeSantis should cancel this event immediately.
DeSantis is scheduled to visit the gun shop on Thursday, 30 March.
Updated
Pence ordered to testify in front of January 6 jury
A federal judge has ordered Mike Pence to testify in a special counsel investigation on Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The former vice-president has been ordered to testify about conversations he had with Trump leading up to the January 6 insurrection, reported CNN.
The judge has said that Pence can decline to answer questions related to his own actions or the insurrection itself.
Pence is able to appeal this ruling.
Updated
Biden: "I can’t do anything except plead with Congress to act" on gun control
Joe Biden has commented on his ability to get gun control passed following Monday’s massacre at a Nashville elementary school, noting that he can only “plead with Congress” for action.
Biden spoke to reporters while on his way to Durham, North Carolina.
While making his trip, Biden was asked about his ability to enact firearm restrictions.
“I can’t do anything except plead with Congress to act,” said Biden.
>@potus is candid about his own powers to enact gun restrictions, telling reporters today:
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 28, 2023
"I can't do anything except plead with Congress to act."
Updated
The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly wrote on the latest updates regarding Tuesday’s shooting in Nashville at an elementary school, available here.
Updated
The Senate chaplain commented on yesterday’s mass shooting, delivering fiery remarks about the need to move beyond thoughts and prayers in response to gun violence.
On Tuesday, Senate chaplain Barry Black began his morning prayer for the Senate with a plea on addressing gun violence.
“When babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers. Remind our lawmakers of the words of the British statesman Edmund Burke: ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing,” said Black during his impassioned prayer.
"When babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers. Remind our lawmakers of the words of the British statesman Edmund Burke: 'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.'"
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) March 28, 2023
-- Senate @Chaplain_Black #Nashvile pic.twitter.com/7nP11shNmR
Democrats are now holding a press conference in response to yesterday’s shooting, urging Republicans to work with them and pass gun control legislation.
Democratic leadership hold presser, starting with yesterday’s school shooting in TN.
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) March 28, 2023
.@PeteAguilar “We must give families the peace of mind to send their kids to school without fearing for their lives. But we need reasonable Republicans to come to the table to make this happen.” pic.twitter.com/GaN2gW0edR
New Virginia Rep. @JennMcClellanVA links gun safety with parental rights at Dem presser: “The number one right parents should have is the ability to send their children to school and not worry about if they'll come back.”
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) March 28, 2023
Dems weight legislation following Nashville shooting
Democrats are apparently weighing legislative options in the face of Monday’s shooting at a Tennessee elementary school, including a discharge petition.
Democrats have been critical of Republicans’ responses to the latest mass shooting and are considering potential actions, reports Politico’s Nicholas Wu.
“We’re going to have a conversation about all options to deal with the gun violence epidemic in America,” said US House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries to Politico.
Dems are weighing options for gun regs in caucus this am- maybe even a discharge petition. Lawmakers want to act in wake of another mass shooting
— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) March 28, 2023
“We’re going to have a conversation about all options to deal with the gun violence epidemic in America,” Leader Jeffries tells me.
Updated
Tennessee representative Andrew Ogles has responded to criticism he received after yesterday’s Nashville shooting for a 2021 Christmas family photo featuring firearms.
Ogles, who represents the district where the shooting took place, did not express regrets on Tuesday over the photo, where Ogles, his wife, and several of his children are holding riffles and smiling.
“Why would I regret a photograph with my family exercising my rights to bear arms?” said the representative.
Per my teammate @elliskkim - Rep Andy Ogles (R-TN), who represents Nashville-area, was asked if he regrets posting holiday photo of family posing with guns.
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) March 28, 2023
Ogles responded: “Why would I regret a photograph with my family exercising my rights to bear arms?”
Updated
An aide to Kentucky senator Rand Paul was stabbed multiple times over the weekend, said the senator in a late Monday statement.
A member of Paul’s staff was seriously wounded during the random attack around 5.15 pm eastern time on Saturday, reported ABC News.
The assault took place less than two miles outside of the US Capitol building, raising concerns about violence in the capital city.
“This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C.,” said Paul in a statement to ABC News.
“I ask you to join [wife] Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions.”
The victim was treated for stab wounds and taken to the hospital for “treatment of life-threatening injuries”, according to a police report obtained by ABC.
The suspect was arrested and is being held without bail.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spoke this morning about yesterday’s shooting, urging Republicans to “show some courage” on passing gun control measures.
While speaking on the show Morning Joe, Jean-Pierre spoke about the need for legislation following another mass shooting in a US school.
“No other country is dealing with this,” said Jean-Pierre. “No other country is dealing with our kids going to school [and] being slaughtered, being murdered.”
“Enough. Enough. Enough,” Jean-Pierre added. “We need Republicans in Congress to show some courage. This is what they owe these parents.
.@PressSec: "Enough. Enough. Enough...We need Republicans in Congress to show some courage. This is what they owe these parents. This is what they owe these family members who are losing their loved ones. They need to show courage...this is unacceptable." pic.twitter.com/HKLo8Xpuur
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) March 28, 2023
Following Monday’s shooting in Nashville, Tennessee governor Bill Lee has come under fire for sharing condolences about the massacre while not supporting gun control in the state.
Republican governor Bill Lee shared on Monday that he was “praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community”.
But Lee was widely criticized for his comments as Lee refused to pass firearm restrictions in June following a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed.
Lee also faced backlash for his comments, as his administration passed a bill in 2021 that allows open carry of handguns without permits in Tennessee.
Tennessee @GovBillLee has offered his thoughts and prayers for Covenant School, but not his action. Shooting like today’s are why police and citizens opposed the permitless carry bill he signed into law at a gun maker's factory in 2021. #tnleg https://t.co/45RKJwe01x pic.twitter.com/ZHS3dqGzdQ
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 27, 2023
Republicans accused of hypocrisy after Nashville shooting
Good morning.
Yesterday’s shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, has once again spotlighted the partisan divide on how to address gun violence in schools.
Three children and three adults were killed during Monday’s massacre at the Covenant school, a private elementary school, confirmed the Nashville police department. The shooting was carried out by a former student who was shot and killed at the scene.
In response to Monday’s tragedy, Democrats have been quick to point out hypocrisy and inaction on gun violence from their Republican counterparts.
Tennessee representative Andrew Ogles, who represents the district where the Covenant school is located, said he was “utterly heartbroken” over the shooting in a statement released on Monday, reported the Washington Post.
But Democrats and gun control advocates brought up Ogles’ previous defense of guns, including a 2021 Christmas card featuring Ogles’ family smiling and holding riffles.
THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville. #tnleg pic.twitter.com/IpkLzZs5m5
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 27, 2023
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre similarly accused Republicans of inaction during yesterday’s briefing, stating: “How many more children have to be murdered before Republicans in Congress step up and pass the assault weapons ban, to close loopholes in our background check system, or to require the safe storage of guns?”
Karine Jean-Pierre, on today's school shooting in TN: "How many more children have to be murdered before Republicans in Congress will step up and act to pass the assault weapons ban, to close loopholes in our in our background check system or to require the safe storage of guns?" pic.twitter.com/OvkNduduf8
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) March 27, 2023
