The White House on Monday condemned a shooting at a controversial cartoon contest in Texas, saying that while Muslims may have found the event offensive there is no justification for violence.
Two gunmen were shot and killed by a security guard Sunday night after opening fire at a Garland event that offered a $10,000 prize for the best cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. One security guard was injured in the assault.
“We have seen extremists try to use expressions that they considered to be offensive as a way to justify violence not only in this country but around the world, and in the mind of the president there is no form of expression that would justify an act of violence,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One. “We saw a pretty important and notable display of bravery on the part of first responders and … because of their courage the only person that was injured by these gunmen was a security officer.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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