California governor blasts Trump, GOP for ‘culture of gun violence’ after shooting

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday blamed President Trump and Republican lawmakers for a “culture of gun violence” after a deadly shooting in the state the day before.

“It’s just sickening … the leadership today that just turns a blind eye and won’t do a damn thing to address these issues,” Newsom told reporters Monday, according to The Sacramento Bee. “What’s goddamned absent in this country right now is moral authority.”

{mosads}Newsom delivered remarks after speaking to the victims of the Gilroy garlic festival shooting, which killed three people — a 6-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a man in his 20s — and injured at least 15.

“California’s doing its part, but Jesus, these guys, the folks in the White House have been supporting the kinds of policies that roll back the work that we’re doing,” Newsom said. “It keeps happening, over and over and over again, on their damned watch.”

He added: “Shame on them.”

Today, I met with a 12-year-old who was shot while in a bounce house. A grandmother mourning the loss of her 6-year-old grandson.

This is America today — the shootings continue. Loved ones are buried. Children are gunned down. And Congress does nothing. pic.twitter.com/JLNb3vdAcM

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 30, 2019

Trump on Monday condemned the “horrific” shooting and offered condolences to the victims: “We will continue to work together as communities and as citizens to stop evil, prevent violence and protect the safety of all Americans.”

The 19-year-old suspected gunman, who was killed by police during the incident, reportedly wore tactical gear and carried a long rifle that had been legally purchased in Nevada earlier this month. Trump made no reference to the nation’s gun laws in his comments.

“We thank the brave members of law enforcement — they never let us down — who swiftly killed the shooter,” he said.