Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid put aside his daily partisan potshots in a Senate floor speech denouncing the shooting at an historic black church in Charleston, S.C.
“I had some other remarks I was going to give, but they could be deemed partisan in nature,” the Nevada Democrat said Thursday on the Senate floor. “I think I can give those at some other time. I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me now to talk about other things as this pall is hanging over our country.”
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Reid called the accused shooter who opened fire at Charleston’s Emanuel A.M.E. Church, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” who entered the church and ended up killing nine, including the pastor. He offered support and sympathy on behalf of the Senate.
“The thought of our fellow citizens being gunned down as they gathered to pray is heart-wrenching and devastating,” Reid said. “It is the ultimate act of cowardice and hatred.”
House lawmakers also denounced the shooting Thursday morning during legislative activity. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said the shooting signals that “there are no more sanctuaries in the United States from gun violence.”
