GOP rep shares ‘hateful, vitriolic’ messages received after shooting

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Tuesday shared some of the “hateful” messages he said he has received in the days since last week’s shooting at a GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., and pleaded with his followers to end the verbal attacks. 

“Below are just a few of the hateful, vitriolic messages I received AFTER the #AlexandriaShooting,” Kinzinger wrote in a Facebook post. “I know this is not the worst of it, and that I’ll get even more comments on this post itself, but it’s shocking and disturbing nonetheless.” 

{mosads}Messages include one that reads “too bad you weren’t on second base,” a reference to where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was practicing when he was shot.

Kinzinger pleaded with his followers to “restore our civility” in the wake of the shooting, which left Scalise and four others injured. 

“As I said last week, that includes me – I am committed to changing my tone and will encourage others in debate to disagree without being disagreeable. It’s time to #RestoreCivility,” Kinzinger wrote.

Scalise is currently recovering in a Washington, D.C. hospital.