Trump On Synagogue Shooting: If They Had Armed Guard This May Not Have Happened

Following a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Shabbat while a bris was underway, President Donald Trump told reporters that perhaps the tragedy would have been prevented if there were armed guards present at the ceremony.

Considering the suspect, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, was heavily armed, Trump was asked if he thought there was a need to revisit gun laws. The president said that “if they had protection inside the results would have been far better.”

He added, “If they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. They didn’t. And he was able to do things that unfortunately he shouldn’t have been able to do.”

After praising the police for doing an “incredible job” and stating that they should “stiffen up laws” regarding the death penalty so mass murderers can be killed quicker, Trump went back to his belief that more guns are needed in places of worship.

“If there were an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop them,” he declared. “Maybe there would have been nobody killed except for him frankly. So it’s a very, very, very difficult situation.”

Meanwhile, law enforcement has confirmed that three police officers were among those shot today. Early reports are that eight people were killed and more injured. Bowers, who espoused hateful anti-Semitic and white nationalist rhetoric online, was injured during the shooting and eventually surrendered to police.

Watch the clip above, via CNN.