<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565379240307.jpeg"> Congressman Sam Graves By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post Congressman Sam Graves sees too much criticism and too little work in wake of mass shootings in Texas and Ohio which have killed more than 30. Graves, a Republican, says little is accomplished when Democratic presidential candidates blame the rhetoric of Republican President Donald Trump for the shootings in El Paso and Dayton. “You know, it’s tiring to be quite honest with you, it’s tiring coming from both sides, because there’s a whole lot of finger pointing and a whole lot of blame,” Graves tells St. Joseph Post. “We need to be tackling these issues and just working on these issues, rather than pointing fingers.” In one weekend, a gunman opened fire in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 and wounding 24 before being capture and another gunman killed nine and wounded 27 in Dayton, Ohio before being shot and killed by police. The latest mass shootings in United States have sparked heated debate, ranging from the rhetoric of President Trump to the prevalence of guns in American society. Graves calls for Democrats and Republicans to work on legislation they can agree upon, such as expanding mental health care to individuals who obviously need help. “Bent on hurting people and killing people and we need to tackle that issue and figure out what needs to be done to identify these folks and to get them the help that they need,” Graves says. “So, instead of working on these issues, there’s just a whole lot of finger pointing going back and forth and that isn’t accomplishing anything.” In addition to expanding mental health treatment, Congress needs to press for harsh punishment for those convicted of mass killings, according to Graves, who says they should face the death penalty. Graves also sees impeachment talks as a distraction. Graves says hatred of the president is driving the impeachment talk, which ultimately keeps Congress from focusing on its duties. “This is just a distraction from getting the work done,” according to Graves. “You know, the frustrating thing is, to be impeached, as president of the United States, you have to be guilty of a high crime and so far, nothing has been brought forward that is a high crime.” Graves further claims hatred of Trump keeps the president’s opponents from realistically assessing his presidency and noticing his accomplishments.

Graves: too much finger pointing, too little work in wake of mass shootings