Locals react to Trump rally shooting

Jul. 16—CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland Times-News reached out to various local business owners, individuals and organizations for their response to the shooting at former President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Questions included "What was your reaction to the shooting?" and "How do you believe it will impact the upcoming election?"

The newspaper did not ask for political party affiliation or preference of presidential candidate.

Of 18 requests for comment, three people spoke on record.

Tony Cornwell owns Locust Post Brewery in Little Orleans.

He said he was at the business, which contains a small campground, with at least 70 folks, including many out-of-towners, on Saturday as news of the shooting unfolded.

"People were mad," he said of his customers.

Cornwell said he wasn't surprised the shooting happened, and added the rally should have been better protected.

Now, since he emerged from the gunfire, Trump "is a shoo-in" for the presidential election, he said.

"He looks powerful," Cornwell said of Trump. "He looks strong."

Cornwell, who also owns a remodeling and restoration business and creates steampunk art, said he is close to many Democrats and Republicans.

"I love my friends all the same," he said and added he's optimistic folks from both parties want unity.

Hopefully (aftermath of the shooting Saturday) "will bring people together," Cornwell said.

Cumberland resident Pamela Twigg, an executive leadership coach, said she's hopeful but unsure unity will follow Saturday's shooting.

"It's a sad situation to be in," she said.

Folks should focus on what they have in common and how to meet in the middle rather than follow an "if you're not with us, you're against us" mentality, Twigg said.

"I don't condone hate speech or political violence or any violence," she said. "How can we all unite in a positive way?"

Frostburg resident Annie Bristow said the United States "has a disgraceful history of shooting leaders" based on disagreement.

"Neither blaming others for this violence or issuing platitudes of unity take the place of the hard work of problem solving within our political system, or the peaceful changing of that system," she said.

Teresa McMinn is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. She can be reached at 304-639-2371 or tmcminn@times-news.com.