Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) says that the shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville should be investigated as a hate crime. Hawley tweeted, “Police say the shooting was ‘targeted.’ That makes it a federal hate crime – against Christian children and teachers. Targeting victims on the basis of religious affiliation is a hate crime.” Hawley said in a follow-up tweet, “All federal resources necessary should be brought to bear. And those individuals or groups who have spread a message of hate against the Christian community – which resulted here in horrific violence – should be held to account.” Metropolitan Nashville Police have revealed that the shooting was well-planned by former student of the school Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a 28-year-old Nashville resident who identified as transgender.
