Rep. Bost: 'Wake-Up Call' to 'Step Back, Come Together'

An Illinois GOP lawmaker – noting the gunman whose rampage wounded House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., was from his own district – called on political partisans to "step back from the battle lines and come together."

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., issued a statement Wednesday after the horrific attack at an Alexandria, Va., baseball field, saying it must serve as a "wake-up call."

"With reports indicating that Wednesday morning's shooter is from my district, this is a tragedy that certainly hits close to home," he stated. 

"We live in challenging times, and the political rhetoric has been turned up to an alarming level," he said. "This should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to step back from the battle lines and come together to strengthen our nation."

The gunman – shot and mortally wounded by police – was identified as James Hodgkinson, an avid supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and a hater of President Donald Trump, according to his social media posts. 

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