Three Republican lawmakers from Texas issued statements on their official websites condemning Sunday’s terrorist attack on a “Draw Muhammad” event in Garland as an assault on freedom of expression.
“Freedom of expression has again been attacked by fanatics. From the capitals of Europe to the streets of Garland, Texas, we have been confronted by attackers who cannot tolerate our open society,” said Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, in a May 4th statement. “But we send a clear message to these extremists: We will not be intimidated by violence, and we will not bow down to terror.”
Chairman McCaul was joined by senior John Cornyn in denouncing the attempted attack on the event in Garland, which was hosted by Pamela Geller, president of the anti-jihad group American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI).
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Garland community and all those affected by last night’s shooting. Quite simply, an attack on free speech is an attack on all Americans,” said Cornyn, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, in a May 4th statement. “I want to thank Garland law enforcement and all agencies involved for ensuring a bad situation did not become much, much worse.”
Garland police shot dead the two jihadists before they could hurt anyone. The attackers opened fire Sunday night outside the Pamela Geller event, which was featuring cartoons of Muhammad.
“There is no place in our society for senseless acts of terror to threaten and intimidate our constitutionally protected right of free expression,” stated Rep. John Ratcliffe, who sits on the House Homeland Security Committee and is a member of the Congressional Task Force on Combatting Terrorism and Foreign Fighter Travel.
“I am grateful that law enforcement in Garland acted courageously to stop the extremists who perpetrated the attack,” added the former terrorism prosecutor, who represents part of Garland. “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this shooting, and I am pleased to hear that the wounded officer is expected to fully recover.”
Breitbart News visited the official websites of all lawmakers from Texas. Reps. McCaul and Ratcliffe were the only ones from the House to issue statements about the terrorist attack. Cornyn was the only Senator.
The two jihadists have been identified as Elton Simpson, a Muslim convert from Phoenix, Arizona, and his Muslim roommate, Nadir Soofi.
“Simpson had been previously convicted of lying to the FBI about his jihadist intentions in 2010,” revealed Breitbart News’s Frances Martel. “Simpson made multiple pro-Sharia statements then that led the FBI to request, unsuccessfully, that he be placed on a no-fly list.”
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