Clinton: Every country has mental illness, video games; ‘the difference is the guns’

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Monday dismissed some lawmakers’ suggestion that the spate of mass shootings in the U.S. can be linked to the prevalence of violent video games or mental illness.

“People suffer from mental illness in every other country on earth; people play video games in virtually every other country on earth,” Clinton, a former senator and secretary of State, said on Twitter. 

{mosads}The comments from Clinton come after mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, this weekend that left more than 30 people dead.

The shootings have touched off a discussion on the regularity of mass shootings in the country, as well as issues related to white supremacy and gun regulations.

The accused shooter in El Paso allegedly shared a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto on the website 8chan before carrying out the massacre on Saturday.

President Trump on Monday called for the entire nation to condemn “bigotry, hatred and white supremacy.” He added that federal law enforcement would receive adequate support in order to crack down on the threat of white nationalists and domestic terrorism. 

The president also placed blame for the violence on “gruesome and grisly video games” that make it easy for “troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence.”

Scientific studies have not found a link between violent video games and violent behavior. 

Clinton has repeatedly advocated for greater gun regulations. On Sunday, she called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to take up gun legislation the House passed earlier this year. 

“With two mass shootings in America in less than 24 hours, thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need action,” Clinton tweeted. 

“The House has sent common-sense gun safety legislation to the Senate. Demand that @senatemajldr and your Republican elected officials join Democrats to pass it.”

The bill would mandate universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers.