Coons: ‘Too many close calls’ with political violence

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Sunday said “there have been too many close calls” with political violence during his time in Congress, following the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

While appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Coons noted the acts of violence against his colleagues, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), as well as the attack on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband, Paul.

“And then, last night, a shocking event, by the grace of God, not a tragedy,” Coons said. ”We would be in a very different place, this morning, if there had been a different outcome.”

A gunman fired into a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, where the former president said a bullet pierced his ear. According to the FBI, the suspect and one attendee were killed, and two other attendees were critically injured.

Some legislators, including Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who’s been mentioned as a possible Trump running mate, and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), quickly attributed the assassination attempt to the Biden campaign’s anti-Trump rhetoric. The motivation behind the shooting is still unknown.

Coons cautioned that legislators should see each other “not as enemies, but as political opponents with different values and views,” noting President Biden’s inaugural address given days after rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“That’s my prayer for our nation, this morning,” he added on Sunday.

The senator also said that a respectful tone should carry into the parties’ conventions this summer. 

“We need to get through both of these conventions with a more respectful and constructive tone,” he advised.

The Republican National Convention is set to start on Monday in Milwaukee, Wis. Trump has confirmed he will be in attendance following the shooting.