by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Yesterday was another sad day in America as nine students and one substitute teacher were killed in a high school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. Ten other students were wounded in the attack. A student shooter was arrested and is being held without bail. This was the second mass shooting in Texas since last November when twenty-seven individuals were killed at a church service in Sutherland Springs.
The shooting at Santa Fe High School brought quick responses from national leaders with Donald Trump having this to say:
And Mike Pence adding this:
Texas Senator Ted Cruz checked in with this bit of Lone Star fluffery:
And the other U.S. Senator from Texas, the one who doesn't showboat twenty-seven, John Cornyn, added this to the conversation:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott immediately sprang into action with this bold announcement:
Governor Abbott also announced that he would be calling a "round table" of stakeholders to convene in Austin on Monday to begin discussing ways to prevent future school shootings in his state. His stakeholders will include students, teachers, school administrators, parents, law enforcement officials, and representatives of the gun industry. Abbott's haste to begin addressing the matter was seen by some as a way to get out in front of possible student protests such as those that arose after the shooting in February at the high school in Parkland, Florida.
Five important Republican politicians rushed to tweet their rage and sorrow yesterday - and to make vague promises of addressing the situation with some nebulous and undefined future action on their parts, presumably actions that would in no way impair their constituents' god-given right to keep and bear arms.
And it's good they are talking, even if it is obvious that they won't be saying much of consequence - especially with the gun industry looking over their shoulders and keeping its trigger finger on their political purse strings.
But there will be talk - and talk is important. Perhaps if those same five individuals would have begun that conversation two weeks ago (to the day) when they were all gathered in Dallas, Texas, to speak at the National Rifle Association convention, they could have come up with some grand idea then that would have averted yesterday's disaster - but that convention wasn't about saving lives - it was about selling guns.
Governor Greg Abbott, the outraged Texan who is calling a stakeholders' meeting to address the topic of school shootings, is also a ferocious proponent of gun sales In October of 2015 he tweeted this gem:
Yeehaw, good buddy! I'm sure with that in-depth understanding and response to the problem, Texas will be able to end the plague of mass shootings in no time. Keep those flags flying, Governor - you're going to need them!
Citizen Journalist
Yesterday was another sad day in America as nine students and one substitute teacher were killed in a high school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. Ten other students were wounded in the attack. A student shooter was arrested and is being held without bail. This was the second mass shooting in Texas since last November when twenty-seven individuals were killed at a church service in Sutherland Springs.
The shooting at Santa Fe High School brought quick responses from national leaders with Donald Trump having this to say:
"We grieve for the terrible loss of life, and send our support and love to everyone affected by this horrible attack in Texas. To the students, families, teachers and personnel at Santa Fe High School – we are with you in this tragic hour, and we will be with you forever..."
And Mike Pence adding this:
"This is another heartbreaking day for students and parents in Santa Fe and all across the Nation. I promise you this: We will not rest, we will not relent until we end this evil in our time and we make our schools safe again."
Texas Senator Ted Cruz checked in with this bit of Lone Star fluffery:
To the people of Santa Fe: "You are, right now, being lifted up at this instant in prayers by millions of people across Texas, across the country and across the world."
And the other U.S. Senator from Texas, the one who doesn't showboat twenty-seven, John Cornyn, added this to the conversation:
"Briefed by law enforcement in Santa Fe this afternoon on the ongoing investigation of today’s tragic shooting. Grateful to local, state, and federal officials for their work. Ready to assist in any way we can."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott immediately sprang into action with this bold announcement:
"Texas flags across the state are being lowered to half-staff in memory of those who lost their lives in the school shooting at Santa Fe High School today."
Governor Abbott also announced that he would be calling a "round table" of stakeholders to convene in Austin on Monday to begin discussing ways to prevent future school shootings in his state. His stakeholders will include students, teachers, school administrators, parents, law enforcement officials, and representatives of the gun industry. Abbott's haste to begin addressing the matter was seen by some as a way to get out in front of possible student protests such as those that arose after the shooting in February at the high school in Parkland, Florida.
Five important Republican politicians rushed to tweet their rage and sorrow yesterday - and to make vague promises of addressing the situation with some nebulous and undefined future action on their parts, presumably actions that would in no way impair their constituents' god-given right to keep and bear arms.
And it's good they are talking, even if it is obvious that they won't be saying much of consequence - especially with the gun industry looking over their shoulders and keeping its trigger finger on their political purse strings.
But there will be talk - and talk is important. Perhaps if those same five individuals would have begun that conversation two weeks ago (to the day) when they were all gathered in Dallas, Texas, to speak at the National Rifle Association convention, they could have come up with some grand idea then that would have averted yesterday's disaster - but that convention wasn't about saving lives - it was about selling guns.
Governor Greg Abbott, the outraged Texan who is calling a stakeholders' meeting to address the topic of school shootings, is also a ferocious proponent of gun sales In October of 2015 he tweeted this gem:
"I'm EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in nation for new gun purchases, behind CALIFORNIA. Let's pick up the pace Texans."
Yeehaw, good buddy! I'm sure with that in-depth understanding and response to the problem, Texas will be able to end the plague of mass shootings in no time. Keep those flags flying, Governor - you're going to need them!
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