Members of Illinois’ congressional delegation see a deeper problem in Wednesday’s shooting during a Republican practice for a charity baseball game — growing hateful political rhetoric.
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville was up to bat during practice with several member of the Republican baseball team practicing for today’s game to raise money for charity when others on the field saw James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville with a gun.
“I never thought I’d go to baseball practice and dodge bullets,” Davis said. “I was up to bat and I heard a loud noise that I thought was a construction site dropping a large piece of metal. And the next thing I heard was one of my colleagues, or somebody else on the field, saying, ‘Run, he’s got a gun.’”
The shooting left five injured and the gunman dead by Capitol Police officers who were providing security at the field.
The shooter wounded Rep. Steve Scalise, the majority whip in the House, and several others, including a congressional staffer and two law enforcement officers.
“I remember looking back and seeing my friend, Steve Scalise, laying motionless in the outfield. I thought he was dead,” Davis said.
Now Davis is asking that people stop the hateful political rhetoric that he feels lead to the shooting.
While a clear motive hasn’t been established, Davis said he believes the shooter was targeting the members of the baseball team.
“The only shots were on the baseball field,” Davis said. “It’s not a coincidence that there were no bullets fired outside the baseball field.”
He’s asking people to stop the polarization in politics. While Davis said not everyone agrees on every item, there is a lot of party cooperation that takes place but isn’t often talked about.
“We need to be respectful and stop the hateful, hateful rhetoric that is coming,” Davis said. “We can disagree on how to govern. That’s what makes this country great. I think Republicans and Democrats need to use this day, today, to stand together and say, ‘Stop, let’s work together, let’s get things done. We can have our differences, but let’s not let it lead to such hate.’”
Davis said there is a belief that members of each side hate each other and can never agree, but in reality that’s not accurate, when the members pass many bi-partisan bills.
“It’s only when there is a disagreement that things are talked about,” Davis said. “There isn’t any light shone on things that we agree on.”
That doesn’t mean that discussions end or that everyone agrees. Instead, Davis wants people to settle arguments differently, to stop turning against each other based on their political party.
“If you disagree with something, settle it in the ballot box, not a park,” Davis said. “That’s what voting is for.”
Not the violence that took place on Wednesday, Davis said.
Davis wasn’t hurt and was able to escape and find shelter during the shooting.
After running from home plate, Davis took cover with several others in a dugout, before running up to the street, where someone let Davis and the others into their apartment to call for help and notify their families.
“I’ll remember the phone call I made to my wife to tell her I was OK, that I wasn’t shot,” he said.
Hodgkinson was shot by police and later died.
Rep. Darin LaHood, while on the roster to play during the games today, was not at the practice at the time of the shooting.
“While I was not at the practice this morning, I want to thank and commend the first responders and the Capitol Police officers on site who helped bring an end to this horrible act.” LaHood said in a statement. “Without them, I worry that the situation would have been far worse. As members of both parties come together this morning in solidarity against this senseless act, my thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families of all those affected.”
