Democrat Adam Smith blames both liberals AND Republicans for recent spike in ... trends now
Every time a mass shooting occurs in the United States - and there have been 212 so far this year - leaders on both sides of the political aisle reflexively retreat to the same blame game: the right pointing to mental illness, the left saying relaxed gun laws are the real issue.
'It's both, okay,' said Washington Rep. Adam Smith, 26-year congressman and top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
'The unbelievably easy access to weapons that we have in this country combined with a number of people who are not in good mental health to create an enormous problem, it's both. It's not an either or thing,' he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.
The lawmaker falls at the crossroads of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the centrist, problem-solving New Democrats group.
'When you say that mental health matters, you're not saying that you don't care about the guns, we need lesser access to guns,' he said.
'It's both, okay,' said Washington Rep. Adam Smith, 26-year congressman and top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said of mental illness and gun laws contributing to violence
'The unbelievably easy access to weapons that we have in this country combined with a number of people who are not in good mental health to create an enormous problem, it's both. It's not an either or thing,' he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview
Last week a gunman at an outdoor mall in Allen, Texas, opened fire with an AR-15 and killed eight people. President Biden renewed his call for an assault weapons ban; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer convened Democrats to talk gun legislation.
But faced with a poll on Fox News showing Americans favor background checks and raising the minimum age to purchase firearms, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pivoted to mental health.
'We are working to address that anger and violence by going to its root cause, which is addressing the mental health problems behind it,' Abbott said. 'People want a quick solution. The long-term solution here is to address the mental health issue.'
'I think the whole nation should be leading,' Speaker Kevin McCarthy said this week in response to a question on whether Congress should take the lead on the gun violence discussion.
Last time Congress took major action on gun control was in June 2022, a month after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school.
The law included $750 million to help enact 'red flag' laws in states throughout the country and offered funding for mental health and school security. It also enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 and closed the boyfriend loophole - so those convicted of domestic violence against dating partners cannot purchase weapons.
People attend a vigil, four days after a gunman shot and killed multiple people at the Dallas-area Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, U.S. May 10
A year on, not much has changed - at this point last year, there had been fewer mass shootings: 183.
In 2016, there were
