NJ Candidate Advocates For Prayer Back In Schools After Shooting

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey Congressional candidate Steve Lonegan said that the deadly Florida school shooting is a sign to return prayers to public schools.

Lonegan, the former mayor of Bogota, is running to represent the Republicans and New Jersey's 5th Congressional District. He appeared on The Kevin McCullough Show. The show is broadcast on two New Jersey conservative radio station: AM 570 and AM 970. McCullough is also a political commentator on Fox News.

"If there's ever a time to return prayer to the classroom, now's the time. That's something I'd be an advocate for," Lonegan said during the interview.

Lonegan wife has been a Catholic school teacher for 37 years.

"Fortunately in my wife's school they have prayer in the classroom," Lonegan said during the interview.

Lonegan said Americans should "turn to the Bible and to God" and react "with love" to friends and family regarding personal issues.

Lonegan also said President Trump handled the shooting "perfectly."

Lonegan posted similar comments on Twitter following the interview.

"Why does prayer scare liberals to death? Liberals took God and civics, love of God and love of country, out of schools, now they are surprised at the results?" Lonegan asked. "Prayer, love of God, love of country, and love and respect for each other are what we need."

Seventeen people, including former New Jersey resident Alyssa Alhadeff, were killed when a gunman went into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. and started shooting according to Florida law enforcement and school officials. Alhadeff was a freshman at the high school.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from Wyckoff, was sworn in to represent the 5th District in January. The district includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties.

Lonegan served as Bogota's mayor from 1996 to 2007 and has since tried to secure higher office.

Lonegan lost to Rep. Tom MacArthur in the 2014 Republican primary in the 3rd District and lost to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker in a 2013 special election after Sen. Frank Lautenberg died.

Lonegan twice sought the Republican nomination for governor, in 2005 and 2009, but lost.

Related: Ex-NJ Teen Alyssa Alhadeff 'Gave Her Best' In Everything She Did
Related: Former Mayor Steve Lonegan To Announce 5th District Candidacy Thursday

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Photo: Steve Lonegan/Courtesy of Lonegan for Congress