Van Hollen: Toxic Mix of Hatred and Easy Access to Guns Needs to be Addressed

Statement

Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in the wake of the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina:

"It is hard to comprehend the hate and evil that surfaced in Charleston last week, but we must fully acknowledge the shortcomings of our society if we ever hope to better it. A toxic mix of hatred and easy access to guns led to this awful tragedy, but we are not powerless to change our future. Taking down the Confederate flag is a necessary and important step toward healing the wounds of a shameful era of institutionalized racism. It is long past time to stop giving false validation to those who claim its symbolism can be separated from its heritage of hate‎. We must re-dedicate ourselves to the urgent work of building a more perfect union and ending the epidemic of gun violence‎."

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