Van Jones: ‘If a Christian Shoots Somebody, We Don’t Say ‘a Christian Shot Them”

Jones said, “Well first of all, I just think it’s very interesting that we’re talking about racially profiling in the context of mass shootings. The vast majority of the people who are doing the mass shootings in America are not Muslims at all…Young white men. Turns out that even the people ideologically motivated, you mentioned ideology — You are seven times more likely to be killed by a right wing extremist — a racist or an anti-government nutjob — seven times more likely to be killed by that person than by a Muslim.”

He added, “I’m just saying—before we even just go down the road of should we racially profile Muslims or not, if I came on TV and said let’s start racially profiling white men, let’s start racially profiling young, white men who are loners with bowl haircuts, people would think, ‘Wow, that’s a pretty unfortunate conclusion for you to come to.’ Certainly there is a better way to move forward. So I just think it’s important for us to recognize we now have so much associated the religion of Islam with shooting. If a Christian shoots somebody, we don’t say ‘a Christian shot them.’ But if a Muslim shoots somebody, we say a Muslim shot them. I think that’s starting to muddy the waters.”