Governor Gretchen Whitmer and mayor Andy Schor have ordered flags lowered throughout Michigan and the city of Lansing in honor of the nearly 30 people killed in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
In the Texas border city of El Paso, a gunman opened fire Saturday morning in a shopping area packed with thousands of people during the busy back-to-school season. The attack killed 20 and wounded more than two dozen, many of them critically.
Hours later in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman wearing body armor and carrying extra magazines opened fire in a popular nightlife area, killing nine and injuring at least 26 people.
Following the shootings, Gov. Whitmer tweeted on Sunday: "Heartsick to hear the news out of El Paso and Dayton. Gun violence is a public health crisis in our country, and we need to come together and take action to make sure firearms don’t end up in the hands of someone who wants to hurt themselves or others."
Mayor Schor issued similar sentiments in a statement on Monday:
“This is a tragedy for the people of El Paso and Dayton, and the City of Lansing stands with the people of both communities in support. I know the Mayor of Dayton well and have already spoken with her,” said Mayor Schor. “We offer our thoughts and prayers, but we also will be part of any solutions that can reduce gun violence. Governor Whitmer is correct in saying that gun violence is a public health crisis. We have seen this in Lansing, throughout our state and throughout our country. We need solutions now. We stand ready to work on these solutions.”
The attacks came less than a week after a 19-year-old gunman killed three people and injured 13 others at the popular Gilroy Garlic Festival in California before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.