Mediaboss Marketing

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said it's likely many people would have died during a shooting that occurred at the Republican baseball practice Wednesday morning had it not been "for the bravery of the Capitol Police."

"As you have likely heard a gunman with a rifle opened fire on congressmen, senators, staff and police this morning. I was there and am shaken but unharmed," Paul said in a statement.

"Many people likely would have died this morning if not for the bravery of the Capitol Police," he continued. "My thanks to them are inadequate but heartfelt. They never hesitated to put their lives on the line to save everyone. Please pray for those who were injured."

Paul and several other Republicans were practicing for Thursday's annual congressional baseball game when a gunman armed with a rifle opened fire on the practice in Alexandria, Va.

Five people were transported to local hospitals, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., who was shot in the hip. Scalise went into surgery Wednesday morning.

The No. 3 Republican, Scalise travels with a security detail, and Paul said had they not been there, the shooting would've been a "massacre."

Paul and others at the practice said the shooter fired at least 10 to 20 rounds before the security detail engaged him.

Multiple reports identifed 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., as the shooter. President Trump said shortly before noon on Wednesday that the suspect had died as a result of police counterattack.

Original post:
Rand Paul: Bravery of Capitol Police kept us alive in congressional baseball shooting - Washington Examiner

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulList of GOP lawmakers at the congressional baseball game practice GOP rep: Before shooting, man asked whether we were Dems or GOP GOP rep recounts using belt as tourniquet at baseball practice shooting MORE (R-Ky.) was in the cage waiting for one more turn at the plate when shots rained down on the field, hitting Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and at least four other people.

Paul told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he probably heard 50 to 60 shots and saw Scalise "trying to drag himself through the dirt out into the outfield."

Paul, who couldn't see the gunman from his position, said he believed the shooter reloaded, and he described the gun as sounding like an AR-15.

He said lawmakers and aides were lucky that Capitol Police were at the scene.

"One of the things that's really fortunate and probably why everybody probably would have died expect for the fact that the Capitol Hill police were there," he said.

Capitol Police were at the scene because of the presence of Scalise, the third-ranking Republican in GOP leadership.

"If Scalise wouldn't have been on the team unfortunately, he was hit and I hope he does well but also by him being there it probably saved everybody else's life because if you don't have a leadership person there, there would have been so security there," Paul said.

"They do a great job. These are brave men and women, and we were really lucky they were there," he said.

Paul said it is common for GOP lawmakers to get to the field as early as 6:15 a.m. He said people know that lawmakers practice at the field, and described a normal morning in which dog walkers and other early risers share pleasantries in the morning.

The senator said he had been ready to leave the practice but had told Sen. Jeff FlakeJeff FlakeList of GOP lawmakers at the congressional baseball game practice GOP senator: I called Scalise's wife after shooting so she wouldn't find out on the news GOP rep's 10-year-old son was at practice when shooting broke out MORE (R-Ariz.) that he wanted to take one more turn at bat before heading back into Washington, D.C.

The rest is here:
Rand Paul gives dramatic first-hand account of shooting - The Hill

In a dramatic eyewitness account, Sen. Rand Paul described Wednesday how he was just outside the perimeter of the baseball field when the first shot rang out and then seconds later he saw Rep. Steve Scalise wounded.

There was a rapid succession of shots, you know five or 10 shots, Paul said on MSNBC. In the field, I see Representative Scalise is shot but moving, and hes trying to drag himself through the dirt and out into the outfield.

Paul who said a "massacre" was prevented by Capitol police on the scene also saw two congressional staffers in the field.

They were laying down, but then Im seeing the shots hitting the dirt around them, and theyre trying to make the difficult decision: Do we lay here, stay low and hope he doesnt hit us ... or does the shooter just advance and come close and shoot you?

One of the staffers scrambled up over the fence. It was probably a 15-20 foot fence, and he did it in about two seconds, Paul recounted. Im on the outside of the fence, and he and I are hiding behind the tree but the gunshots are landing in the dirt in the outfield and around us.

Paul said it took a few minutes to determine where the shots were coming from and that he and the staffer were not sure which side of the tree to shelter behind.

The people in the field unfortunately didnt have much of a chance because nobody could get to them and they couldnt get to us and it was a wide open field, Paul said. There was no way to get to people like Scalise until the firing had stopped.

Paul, a doctor, said he thought the shots sounded like they were coming from an AR-15 rifle, and that the gunman continued to reload the weapon.

I probably heard 50-60 shots, he said. Then finally we heard the response from the Capitol Hill police.

Paul said he felt lucky Capitol Hill police were present and that they prevented a "massacre."

"Had they not been there it would have been a massacre, because there's no escaping a guy you know if he's got several hundred bullets and we had no weapons and no place to hide," he said. "So if he would have advanced on the rest of us there would have been no chance, the only chance we had was that the shots were returned by the Capitol Hill police."

Paul added, Everybody probably would have died except for the fact that the Capitol Hill police were there and the only reason they were there was because we had a member of (House) leadership on our team. If Scalise wouldnt have been on the team unfortunately he was hit and I hope he does well but also by him being there probably saved everybody elses life because if you dont have a leadership person there, there would have been no security there.

Scalise is in stable condition.

Paul stressed that members of Congress are just like everyone else, and that they aren't usually followed by an armed security detail.

"Were just like normal people," he said. "I go to the grocery store like a normal person. I buy my groceries. I go to the gas station. We practice out there and we just ... we live in a country where we hope there's not such hatred or craziness and, I don't know, disappointing, sad."

Read the original:
Rand Paul on Scalise Shooting: Capitol Police Prevented 'Massacre' in Virginia - NBCNews.com

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulList of GOP lawmakers at the congressional baseball game practice GOP rep: Before shooting, man asked whether we were Dems or GOP GOP rep recounts using belt as tourniquet at baseball practice shooting MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said that supporting a nearly $110 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia is counterproductive to United States support for Israel, an argument that comes as the Senate prepares to vote on a resolution of disapproval against part of President Trumps weapons sale.

In an op-ed for FoxNews.com, Paul said lawmakers and their constituents should have a say in the arms deal, arguing that weapons could someday be used against Israel.

The United States must also take into full consideration whether providing more arms to Saudi Arabia is beneficial to our ally in the region Israel, Paul wrote.

It would seem counterproductive to provide weapons that might someday be used against Israel.

Already, U.S. military assistance through intelligence, refueling missions, and the sale of major U.S. defense equipment has not abated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Paul said.

If anything, it has exacerbated it, and it has associated our name with Saudi Arabias tactics in Yemenis minds.

Paul, along with Sens. Chris MurphyChris MurphySenate rejects effort to block Saudi arms sale Senate Republicans back off proposed restrictions on media Rand Paul: 'Counterproductive' to back Saudi arms deal if supporting Israel MORE (D-Conn.) and Al FrankenAl FrankenOvernight Cybersecurity: Sessions denies Russia collusion | First agency gets 'A' grade on IT | Feds out North Korean botnet | Unusual security update for Windows XP Franken fires back at Sessions after testimony Senate rejects effort to block Saudi arms sale MORE (D-Minn.), on Tuesday afternoon will bring a resolution of disapproval to a vote. The resolution opposed the sale of certain defense services, including technical data.

Will our assistance bring an end to Saudi Arabias history of promoting hatred of America and Israel throughout the world? Paul asked in the op-ed.

More:
Rand Paul: 'Counterproductive' to back Saudi arms deal if supporting Israel - The Hill

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Tuesday spoke against slapping new sanctions on Russia for what the U.S. intelligence community believes was widespread interference in the 2016 election.

Asked about how the U.S. should respond to Russian hackers, Paul said during an interview, "I'm really not in favor of new sanctions against Russia now or new sanctions on Iran."

He added, "Everything we say Russia's done wrong. So China does," before listing off examples of cyber-espionage, suppressing freedom of speech and human rights violations.

Paul made the comments as the Senate is on the cusp of passing a bipartisan Iran sanctions bill, which also includes sanctions against Russia.

When pressed on a proper U.S. response to Russian meddling, he belittled sanctions as akin to "tweaking their nose" and said improved cyber-security is what the U.S. really needs.

After all, "everybody in the world who can spy, spies," he said, including the U.S.

The Obama administration administered sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine in 2014, and another round was put in place last December, along with ordering dozens of diplomats out of the country in retaliation for Russia's alleged election meddling.

See the article here:
Rand Paul opposes new sanctions against Russia: It's just 'tweaking their nose' - Washington Examiner