GREENVILLE, S.C. – Following a shooting at Haywood Mall on Saturday afternoon that left two people hospitalized and several individuals detained, Dr. Annie Andrews, a physician, and candidate for U. S. Senate from South Carolina released the following statement:

“My heart goes out to the victims of today’s violence at Haywood Mall, and my family is praying for their full recovery. I am also grateful for the swift and professional response of the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, who worked quickly to secure the scene.

While this appears to have been an isolated dispute, it is the latest example of the pervasiveness of the public health crisis of gun violence. Too many South Carolinians have been robbed of a sense of physical and psychological safety in our communities. 

As I campaign across this state, I talk to parents who are worried about their children’s safety at school, and community members who weather the heartbreaking toll of daily gun violence in America. South Carolinians deserve better than this. 

In Congress, I will fight for common-sense solutions that protect our communities without infringing on the Second Amendment. This includes supporting our local law enforcement with the resources they need, addressing the root causes of violence in our neighborhoods, and ensuring that those who bring guns into public disputes are held fully accountable. I will advocate for gun safety laws that have been shown to reduce the incidence of gun injuries and deaths, including universal background checks and increased funding for hospital and community violence intervention programs. 

Today’s events are a reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent. It’s time for new leadership that will put public safety first.”