A conservative radio host's show was canceled after he 'joked' about wishing for a 'nice school shooting' to break up impeachment coverage
- Denver conservative radio host Chuck Bonniwell had his show canceled on Wednesday after he made controversial remarks about impeachment.
- On the "Chuck & Julie" show on Tuesday, Bonniwell said, "you wish for a nice school shooting to interrupt the monotony" of impeachment coverage.
- Colorado has been the site of numerous high profile mass shootings, from the Columbine shooting to the "Dark Knight" shooting.
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A Denver conservative Christian radio station canceled one of its shows on Wednesday, after the host made an "inappropriate" comment about wishing for a school shooting to break up President Donald Trump's "never-ending impeachment."
On the "Chuck & Julie" show on Tuesday, co-host Chuck Bonniwell announced a segment on impeachment, and commented: "You know, you wish for a nice school shooting to interrupt the monotony."
His co-host, Julie Hayden, immediately corrected him.
"Don't even - don't even say that. No, don't even say that," Hayden said. "Don't call us. Chuck didn't say that."
Bonniwell added that he only wished for a shooting in which "no one would be hurt."
Bonniwell said in a statement on Tuesday that he was only joking when he made the comment.
"I made an inappropriate comment meant as a joke. I'm sorry it was not received in that light," the statement read, according to the Denver Post.
Nonetheless, station 710 KNUS announced that the "Chuck & Julie" show had been canceled on Wednesday, and would be replaced by ex-Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka's radio show, America First.
"Given the history of school violence that has plagued our community, 710 KNUS confirms that an inappropriate comment was made on the Chuck & Julie show by co-host Chuck Bonniwell. A programming decision was made to end the program immediately," the station said in a statement.
Coloradans decried Bonniwell's comments
Colorado has been the site of numerous high-profile mass shootings over the years, from the Columbine shooting to the "Dark Knight" shooting.
Coloradans who lost loved ones in mass shootings decried Bonniwell's comments.
Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessi was killed in the 2012 "Dark Knight" shooting in Aurora, tweeted that Bonniwell showed "total ignorance."
John Castillo, whose son Kendrick was killed in a recent shooting at a Highlands Ranch STEM School in May, told KDVR: "Making a statement like that is just unbelievable to me, especially our family. I couldn't believe it."
"People always say they're sorry - we're sorry for your loss, sorry for the statement we made - make it your life work to prove it. Do something different. Advocate for good. I don't know why we focus on the negative or have to come up with rhetoric for politics or other things when there's an open book, a canvas out there waiting for legislative change, for laws that do good for mental health - for suicide prevention. You know, focus on those things," Castillo said.
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