Texas Republicans Refuse to Condemn Allen Shooter's Extremist Beliefs

[Nevilledog]

https://www.texasobserver.org/allen-shooting-republicans-extremism/

It has been a month since the mass shooting in Allen that took eight lives and left another six people wounded. According to statements from the Texas Department of Public Safety and media reports, the shooter, Mauricio Garcia, held white supremacist beliefs, had Nazi symbols tattooed on his body, and expressed hypermasculine and misogynist views. Although investigators are still working to identify a precise motive for the killings, it is clear that Garcia had become immersed in an ecosystem of hateful far-right politics prior to the shooting.

Republican elected officials appeared eager to offer their thoughts and prayers in the immediate aftermath of the May 6 mass shooting. Some went out of their way to drive from the state capitol during a contentious legislative session to attend a prayer vigil at Cottonwood Creek Church, where former Republican state Representative Scott Sanford serves as executive pastor. But when it comes to condemning the hateful beliefs of the shooter, not one Republican elected official in Texas has been willing to make a public statement.

The Texas Observer reached out to 15 elected officials who represent constituents in Allen, requesting comment on the fact that the shooter held hateful views and is a part of a broader pattern of far-right mass murders. Only four responded. Only one condemned the Allen shooter’s beliefs without equivocation.

“Elected officials have the opportunity to educate a larger community than your everyday person about the dangers of this kind of extremist ideology and educate folks on why that kind of ideology is not good for our country or communities,” said Jake Kurz, spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “We invite all elected officials with an elevated platform to speak out against racism and extremist ideology and all forms. We think they have a real responsibility really to do that.”

*snip*

[Marius25]

1. When can we rename the GOP to the American Nazi Party?

[calimary]

2. We could just start doing it.

[The Magistrate]

3. They Can't Lose The Votes, Ma'am

Without white supremacy and race hate, they've no mass voting bloc at all....

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Who is surprised by this?

[walkingman]

5. I live in Texas and it is very real. Especially in rural Texas.

[markodochartaigh]

12. I worked right in the middle of Dallas

for thirty years. Very right wing views are common even in the bluest urban areas, and not just among Whites. Fifty years ago there was a common saying that a Texas Democrat was like a New York Republican. Although Texas certainly has had progressive Democratic politicians there is still a lot of truth in that old saying. I'm so thankful that my Mom's family almost all made it to California in the 50's and 60's.

[walkingman]

13. Exactly - I've was transferred to Houston when I was 24 (1974) and lived in an area

that was cool (Montrose) back in the day. I don't remember politics being a big deal until the '80 election of Reagan and we actually had arguments at work over politics for the first time - ever. It has just gotten worse and worse over time. In '87 I was transferred to Austin area and decided to try and find a place out of the city to live (I had gotten married in '78). Wow, I had no idea what that was going to be like. We used to go to Lake Travis for the weekend or New Braunfels to ride the rapids so I thought this area would be really nice. WRONG!

Still here 35 years later because of family but it sucks...

[IronLionZion]

6. Republicans support hateful extremist beliefs and easy access to guns

it's pretty clear where they stand on both issues. They won't condemn hate because they depend on extremists' votes each election.

[judesedit]

7. A bunch of real wusses

Not a spine among them.

[RussBLib]

8. Why should they condemn the shooters views?

When they SHARE the shooters views?

[Ford_Prefect]

9. The shooter's views ARE the official Republican Party Dogma.

There is no perceptible difference between them other than the legislators aren't the ones firing the weapons. Instead they are literally weaponizing their constituents.

[dchill]

10. It's all just part of their religion now.

The cross and the swastika, they're so similar.

[walkingman]

14. +1

[Martin68]

11. The GOP is like, "Racism? What racism? The guy was just shooting kids. What's racist about that?"

Conservatives are deathly afraid that if they admit that racism is a thing, they and their racist ideology will be exposed for the obscene filth they are.