Two dozen members of Congress, all Republicans, gathered early to practice for their annual baseball game against the Democrats. Many were still a bit on the sleepy side when shots began ringing out across the diamond in Alexandria, Virginia.
It was June 14, 2017. The first 911 calls came in at 7:09 a.m. By the time police and emergency workers scrambled to the scene, the would-be assassin was dead and Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana lay grievously wounded. He’d been gunned down near second base but it was his security detail that had laid down a hail of gunfire that saved his life and those of everyone else there.
Congressman Scalise was shot in the hip but the bullet traveled across his pelvis doing severe damage to soft tissue and internal organs. His injuries were devastating but thanks to the fast thinking members of Congress around him, the heroic efforts of Capital Police officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey and the Grace of God he survived.
In his new book "Back in the Game: One Gunman, Countless Heroes and the Fight for My Life," Scalise is able to connect his near fatal shooting to his faith and perseverance.
He takes a deep dive into everyone on the front lines of the shooting to the heroes that emerged each step of the way to save his life and that of his colleagues laid out by a gunman triggered by leftist hate of Republicans and America.
In his reflections we find out that Steve Scalise is not bitter but rather very thankful for the everyday people that responded at exactly the right time, every time to keep him alive. We understand the deep divide in America but come to the realization through his journey that Americans have far more uniting them than tearing them apart. If only they could see past the division and reach out their hands.
This is a heart pounding moment by moment account of what happened on the baseball diamond and a much deeper examination of who we are as Americans and what we must do to tone down the hateful rhetoric in today's political conversations.
If we do not heed the words of Congressman Steve Scalise we are almost certainly going to see the hatred erupt into violence again — this time the outcome may not be so positive.
It is time to take the threats seriously and say ‘no more.’ It is time to listen to those who were nearly killed by violence spurred by political vitriol. It is time to say no more or we will be reading about bloodshed and funerals.
Steve Gruber is a conservative talk show host with 25 affiliates in Michigan. "The Steve Gruber Show" launched in 2012 with just four affiliates and has grown into the most powerful name in talk radio across Michigan. Steve has been named “Best Morning Personality” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters five years in a row. His conservative, common-sense philosophy was developed during his time growing up in rural Michigan. Steve’s early career found him in several newsrooms including WILX, Lansing where he honed his investigative journalism and interviewing skills. He became the main news anchor of the station and before long was offered a job with NBC in Columbus, Ohio. While working for NBC, he covered the incredible launch of John Glenn, age 77, into space at Cape Canaveral, White Supremacists in Ohio, and the deadly game of selling prescription medication online. Steve was nominated for an Emmy in 2000. To read more of this reports — Click Here Now.
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