Trump: If Pittsburgh synagogue had armed guards, attack might have been stopped

US president says the outcome of the mass shooting would have been ‘far better’ had the synagogue had armed protection inside

President Donald Trump said the outcome of a synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning “would have been far better” if the synagogue had more armed protection inside.

“This is a case where if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately,” Trump told reporters just hours after the shooting. “If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better.”

He added: “Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly.”

The shooting left 11 dead and several others injured.

Trump also said those who commit violence inside houses of worship should receive the death penalty.

A Gab profile photo of Robert Bowers (YouTube)

“When people do this, they should get the death penalty and they shouldn’t have to wait years and years,” he said.

“They should pay the ultimate price.”

The president repeatedly referred to the synagogue shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, as a “wacko,” a “maniac” and “crazy.” Bowers was taken into custody.

Law enforcement run with a person on a stretcher at the scene where multiple people were shot, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)

Trump’s comments drew condemnation on social media from many who saw him as blaming the synagogue for the incident. US Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., criticized the president for a “lack of empathy.”

Trump’s plan to combat these tragedies is to put guns and armed guards in places of worship.
His lack of empathy is just staggering. https://t.co/SFTekhkTjQ

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 27, 2018

Tommy Vietor, a political commentator and podcaster who worked in the Obama administration, also lashed out at Trump.

The President thinks that the solution to preventing gun violence is to have armed guards at a bris. A fucking bris.

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 27, 2018

Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who is Jewish, tweeted that “America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.”

America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.

All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh.
We must unite against hatred & evil.

God bless those affected

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 27, 2018