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Yet again. Yet again. Yet again. Yet again. Yet again …
Killing our kids in school? No problem! It happened yet again, this time at Anunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis. Last year, almost to the day, it happened at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia, as I wrote about then. And it will continue happening until Americans vote out the mass-murder enablers — the politicians who, after every unconscionable event, stand before the cameras and microphones, bristling with feigned fury and say, like Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia did last year with the straightest of faces, “Gun safety legislation is the last thing we should be talking about on a day like this. Think about the victims and their families!” Or words to that effect.
I’m sure that talking, or even thinking, about gun safety legislation was the last thing Gov. Kemp wanted to do that day. But he would also say that the next day and the next. Every day, in fact, gun safety is the last thing a spineless politician like Brian Kemp wants to think about, much less talk about. He craves those NRA donations too much and is beholden to his de facto constituents — the ones with money and influence — not to the victims of the latest school shooting and their families and friends. So he uses the victims for political cover, like the coward he is.
But he stood as straight as a spineless politician can and said to the cameras that the survivors don’t want us talking about common-sense gun legislation that might protect their children and everyone else’s child.
Really, Gov. Kemp? Did you ask them? Yes, even on that day, the worst day of their lives. I’d be willing to bet that every single one of them is thinking about gun legislation that might have protected their children’s lives. Legislation banning assault weapons, for instance, the ban your party, the Republican Party, allowed to expire 21 years ago and refuses to reinstate.
Or if that day wasn’t a good day, why not ask the next day, or the day after their kids’ funerals? I’m willing to bet it’s very much on their minds. I’m pretty sure they would all say they’re in favor of gun legislation that protects everyone’s children — today and every day for the rest of their lives. And I’m sure the parents at Anunciation School in Minneapolis would say that, too.
I’ll bet they would say an assault weapons ban sounds pretty damned good right now. Also a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. I’ll bet they’re in full favor of Universal Background Checks, and red flag laws, and mandating secure storage of firearms in the home, and a host of other measures that would in no way violate Second Amendment rights but might protect us from gun rampages. Enforceable, consistent, nationwide laws with real consequences for those who violate them. In fact, polls show that ranks really high for the vast majority of Americans.
And I’ll bet they’re in favor of governors not being hypocritical weasels who only pretend to support the families and friends of the victims. Because if you supported them you would ask what should be done to protect kids from gun violence. And then you’d goddamn do something about it!
Here’s one thing I’m pretty sure those families won’t say: “Your thoughts and prayers are all we need.”
But you won’t ask them, will you? And the media won’t ask either. You’d rather grovel at the feet of Trump and the NRA, who believe gun rights are far more important than gun responsibilities and far more sacred than the lives of our kids.
But spineless politicians and an indifferent media aren’t the main problem. The NRA isn’t even the main problem.
The real problem is American citizens who keep voting people like Donald Trump and Brian Kemp into office — and who won’t vote these cowards out of office when it’s obvious they won’t lift a finger, or even their voice, to protect their actual constituents — the ones whose fists aren’t stuffed with money.
According to the publication Education Week, so far in 2025 there have been “8 shootings causing injuries or death on school property or buses during school hours or events.” And according to the watchdog group Everytown for Gun Safety, “91 gun incidents resulted in a person being killed or wounded, as well as those in which a gun was discharged and no one was shot” in 2025.
At least Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, when he had his moment before the microphones, said, “I ask the folks who are watching around the country, keep us in your thoughts and prayers, but also keep us in the thoughts for action.” Even that is disappointingly weak, but I hope Gov. Kemp was one of those watching. It doesn’t take much to call for action.
All it takes is courage.
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