JD Vance under fire for downplaying school shootings as ‘a fact of life’

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has sparked outrage on social media for downplaying school shootings, saying they were a “fact of life.”

Speaking to rally attendees in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, Sept. 5, the Ohio senator said, “If these psychopaths are going to come after our children, we have to be prepared for it,” according to Raw Story.

“We don’t have to like the reality we live in, but it is the reality we live in. We have to face it.”

Vance’s remarks came a day after four people were killed in a fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia when a 14-year-old student opened fire. The victims included two students and two teachers.

JD Vance prioritizes classroom safety over gun control, calls school shootings a ‘fact of life’

A reporter asked JD Vance what could be done to stop school shootings. In response, the Republican vice presidential candidate advocated for increased security in schools, saying that restricting access to guns would not end them.

“I don’t like this to be a fact of life,” he said.

“But if you’re a psychopath and you want to make headlines, you’ll realize that our schools are easy targets. And we need to beef up security in our schools. We need to beef up security so that if a psychopath wants to come in the front door and kill a bunch of kids, he can’t do it,” Vance added.

He said further restricting access to guns, as many Democrats advocate, will not end them, noting that such incidents occur in states with both lax and strict gun laws.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign slammed the Republican’s soft comments on school shootings, saying Donald Trump and his running mate Vance would choose the NRA and gun lobby over children, adding that it was the “choice” of the 2024 election.

The vice president, who heads the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, has backed banning sales of AR-15 rifles and increasing security at schools to prevent similar massacres.

The father of the Georgia school shooting suspect, Colin Gray, 54, has been arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder and cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, CNN reported.

Internet slams JD Vance for saying school shootings are a ‘fact of life’

JD Vance’s comment that school shootings were a “reality” sparked widespread backlash on social media. Netizens disagreed with him and called his comments “horrible.”

“They don’t have to be, and anyone who says that is not serious and is a horrible human being. The Republican Party loves guns more than children and I wonder how JD Vance reconciles that position while also identifying as a Christian,” one user asked.

“@JDVance, that is truly abhorrent. No school shooting should be tolerated. Totally flawed values,” another commented.

“JD, school shootings are NOT a reality. They are an aberration of life. Back off you confused little teenager and let the adults handle this,” a third user added.

“No. School shootings are not a common occurrence these days and never have been. The fact that you feel no emotion for the dead teachers and students is psychotic. No student should have to attend school under armed guard. Not now, not ever,” read a fourth response.

“This guy is literally the epitome of stupidity,” another person wrote.

“This uniquely American phenomenon is a ‘fact of life’. JD is truly appalling. Somehow he becomes less likable every time he opens his mouth,” one person commented.

“Hey @JDVance, this would be one of those times where you might as well just shut up. Mass school shootings were unheard of before Columbine happened. You were only 14 back then. Stick to what you actually know, which apparently isn’t much,” another user added.

“Sick and disgusted,” read one comment.

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