By Stephen Smoot
In another presidential campaign, in another place, in another time, Theodore Roosevelt took a bullet to the chest during a campaign address. He settled himself, continued the speech, then went to the hospital. That same president also once made a famous statement about people of action that includes “the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”
Last weekend, former President Donald Trump made a similar kind of history as a disaffected 20 year old tried to end his life – and with it a political era.
“I absolutely was shocked,” said Pastor Jason Boggs from Redeeming Grace in Franklin. “For me, my response was, as soon as I heard about it, I started praying.”
The former president received a nick to the ear, but experts state that had he not turned his head a second before, the shot would have passed through his brain and skull.
Congressman Alex Mooney was the first to issue a statement last weekend, sharing that it was “a horrifying event for our nation.” He praised “the brave members of the United States Secret Service, local police, and first responders,” and added that “this type of senseless violence goes against everything our country stands for.”
Boggs shared that “it was traumatizing to me. For me, it was a moment where America could come together, forget about political views, and pray.” Those sentiments echoed the response from Delegate Bryan Ward, who represents much of Pendleton County in the West Virginia State Legislature. He called the event “a sad day for America” and also showed the need to set politics aside by saying “had this been a Biden campaign event, my heart would be heavy just the same.”
One of the real tragedies of the day came when a father and firefighter draped himself over his family to protect them and was shot and killed in the gunfire. Robbie Morris of Elkins said he was “horrified to hear about the attempted assassination of President Trump, but added that “my deepest condolences go to the family of Corey Comperatore . . . he is a true hero and epitome of what a father does to protect his family.”
The incident seems to have created a different mindset for Trump. Near death experiences can produce powerful changes in thinking. He stated after the shooting that he decided to set aside the incendiary address that he had planned for later in the week to speak about unity and values.
Many, however, do not have optimism that the country will de-escalate its political rhetoric. Boggs shared “unfortunately, I don’t feel that it’s going to. I’ve seen a lot just in posting . . . we’re seeing it both ways.”
“I strongly condemn political violence of any type, toward any party, elected official, candidate, their supporters, their family, or anything else,” Morris stated, adding like Boggs that praying for the country is a powerful tool.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice presented a seemingly unscripted and unquestionably heartfelt address to the state about the incident, opening with “I never dreamed in my life that what we’d see is what we saw on Saturday.”
“We saw a miracle right in front of our eyes,” Justice said about the former President’s near miss, adding “unbelievable the blessing.”
“We’ve got to stop the violence, do we not?” the Governor added, then ended with “keep in prayer all of us.”
