Locals: Political climate conducive to shooting

A harshly divisive political climate was one of the culprits cited by Kootenai County residents asked by The Press about Wednesday’s shooting in Alexandria, Va.

The shooter has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson, a resident of Illinois with a history of anti-GOP activity. Hodgkinson is accused of opening fire on a Republican Congressional baseball practice outside the nation’s capital, wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and at least five others.

House Speaker Paul Ryan rallied bipartisan support from members of the House to “show the world that we are one House, the people’s House, united in our humanity.”

While the shooting is getting some credit for attempts to bring the parties together, it was clear to some locals that polarized politics encouraged the attack in the first place. Tabitha Wiltse, 31, a Coeur d’Alene resident, said she thinks emotions have gotten in the way of political progress.

“I think it’s based out of a lot of anger, and unfortunately I think it’s a lot of side-splitting instead of working together,” Wiltse said.

Others like Mark Tucker, 49, another Coeur d’Alene resident, think there are additional factors at play, too.

“I think the political climate is definitely making an impact on people’s decisions, but I don’t think you can put an act like that into one bucket,” Tucker said.

Multiple residents cited political climate as playing only a partial role in the shooting. Peggy Whitman, 66, of Coeur d’Alene, said a polarized, heated political climate mixed with the accessibility of high-power firearms created a deadly combination.

“Assault rifles should never even be on the streets anywhere,” Whitman said. “But also, it’s the divisive climate, because what makes [a person] want to go shoot Republicans if not that?” Whitman’s friend Nancie Bogardus, 64, agreed, adding, “it’s really a frightening time.”

But Jeremy Morris, 38, from Coeur d’Alene, isn’t concerned about lax gun regulations being part of the problem.

“I don’t think it’s a gun issue. A lot of people in Coeur d’Alene have guns, and I’m not fearful for my life,” Morris said. “He’s probably mentally disturbed.”

Numerous media reported Hodgkinson was known for being passionately against the Republican Party. He frequently wrote letters to his local newspaper and posted on his Facebook profile about his disdain for Republicans, including one post that read, “I hate Republicans and everything they stand for,” in December 2015.

Laurie Cochran, 35, a resident of Rose Lake, believes President Trump’s election to office spurred the hateful political landscape.

“Everyone is just against the whole government right now. They don’t like who was elected,” Cochran said. “The people have spoken and people just need to agree with what’s going on.”

Gary Gregg, 82, a Coeur d’Alene resident, placed blame more specifically on one side of the aisle.

“The political climate is because of a lot of the misinformation that’s put out, mostly by the liberals,” Gregg said.

Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan told the Associated Press that a man who fit the description of the attacker approached him as he was preparing to leave the field around 7 a.m.

“Excuse me, sir,” the man said to Duncan. “Who’s practicing today? Democrats or Republicans?” Duncan told him that it was the Republican team. The man then thanked Duncan and walked away.

Duncan told the Associated Press he was sure the man he spoke to was the shooter, based on photos he had seen.