East Central Reporter

Representative Brad Halbrook wants to find and eliminate the root cause of a mass murders like the Highland Park shooting.

In a July 11 news release, Halbrook spoke out regarding the shooting.

"I am saddened by the senseless loss of life by deranged individuals who are intent on doing evil," Halbrook said. "I pray for the victims and their families. We need to look for answers as to why the Highland Park mass murder occurred and why the violence in Chicago continues."

CNN reports seven people died and nearly 100 were wounded in the shooting, which occurred during the community's Fourth of July celebration. Suspect Robert Crimo III was taken into custody, and Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rineheart told CNN that Crimo faces seven charges of first-degree murder and that he plans to seek the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole should the suspect be convicted. Apart from this, dozens of other charges will be added, including attempted murder.

Halbrook's statement continued: "It is time to get to the root cause of this violence. More information comes out daily that the Highland Park shooter had a fascination with violence that was ignored. It should be noted that Highland Park had in place its own assault weapons ban, enacted in 2013, and that Illinois has Red Flag laws as well, both of which failed to prevent the shooter from owning the weapon he used. More laws are not the answer. I firmly believe we must look deeper for solutions to the violence going on in our society. We must be open to all conversations about why this violence continues to occur and look for real solutions to prevent this tragic loss of life in the future. As to Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker's disaster declaration for Highland Park, I would like to know what criteria he is using to make such declarations. The unfairness of declaring one zone of violence as a disaster area and ignoring others."

Pritzker had called a special session to address abortion in Illinois following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, according to The Chicago Tribune, but on July 5 he announced that it would be delayed.