Rick Santorum Calls 'Evil' Charleston Shooting an 'Act of Terrorism'
"It's as purely evil as we've seen in this country in a long, long time."
— -- Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum called the shooting that took place in Charleston, South Carolina, last week that left nine people dead an "act of terrorism."
Today Emanuel AME Church held its first service since Dylann Roof, 21, allegedly killed nine people during a Bible study inside the church. He has been charged with nine counts of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
"I don't think there's any question this is an act of terrorism and it's -- it's as purely evil as we've seen in this country in a long, long time," Santorum told ABC's "This Week" today. "This young man is going to get justice served on him."
The shooting seemed to nationalize the debate over the flying of the Confederate flag outside the South Carolina Statehouse. Mitt Romney, who defeated Santorum in the 2012 Republican Primary, said it should be removed while Santorum said the decision should be left to South Carolinians.
“I don't think the federal government or federal candidates should be making decisions on everything and opining on everything,” said Santorum. "We should let the people of South Carolina go through the process of making this decision."
Santorum, who announced in May that he will again run for president, also weighed in on Donald Trump entering the crowded 2016 field.
“It's not a bad thing to have a whole bunch of different points of view out there running for president,” he said.