Assault Rifles and Republican Fear-Mongering Linked to Trump Assassination Attempt

New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill has condemned the second assassination attempt against former President Trump, blaming it on Republican rhetoric and the widespread availability of assault weapons.

The aftermath of the second assassination attempt against former President Trump has sparked outrage and introspection, with New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill linking the incident to a dangerous combination of Republican fear-mongering and the easy access to assault rifles.

According to Sherrill, the confluence of these two factors created a volatile environment that led to the attack. She criticized the Republican Party for spreading misinformation and fueling division, which she believes played a role in inciting the suspect.

Assault Rifles and Republican Fear-Mongering Linked to Trump Assassination Attempt

"On one side, the attempts to divide, to enrage the population, to put out false rumors and misinformation," Sherrill said. "We know the mayor in Springfield is begging the Republican Party to stop with the false information on immigrants."

Sherrill also pointed to the alarming accessibility of assault rifles, questioning how the suspect, who had previous convictions related to weapons, managed to obtain such powerful firearms.

Assault Rifles and Republican Fear-Mongering Linked to Trump Assassination Attempt

"It seems almost anyone who wants to have access [to assault rifles]," she said. "So how did this man, who already had some convictions for barricading himself with a weapon, have access to weapons of war that I was trained on when I was in the military?"

Sherrill's comments come amidst growing concerns about the role of political rhetoric in fueling violence. MSNBC host Lester Holt observed that the assassination attempt occurred "amid increasingly fierce rhetoric on the campaign trail" from Trump and his supporters.

Assault Rifles and Republican Fear-Mongering Linked to Trump Assassination Attempt

Sherrill went on to criticize Elon Musk, who had raised questions about why anyone would want to assassinate Trump but not Biden or Kamala Harris.

"Why is he asking that question? Is he suggesting people should take note of that and take action?" she asked.

Assault Rifles and Republican Fear-Mongering Linked to Trump Assassination Attempt

Sherrill expressed alarm over the potential consequences of such inflammatory language and the proliferation of hatred and division within society.

"We need leaders who are going to bring people together to unite us," she said. "And now as we face these perilous times, Donald Trump and the GOP and Project 2025 and J.D. Vance and now Elon Musk continue to try to sow division and wedges and hatred into the population."

Sherrill's remarks underscore the urgent need to address the toxic political environment that has fueled violence and made it easier for individuals to obtain dangerous weapons.