During the recent Vice Presidential Debate, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance expressed sympathy towards Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after Walz revealed that his 17-year-old son had witnessed a shooting at a community center while playing volleyball.
“I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting,” Vance stated. “I’m sorry about that, and I appreciate that. Christ have mercy.” This poignant exchange occurred as the candidates were asked about the alarming epidemic of gun violence in the United States.
Vance highlighted that most gun violence is perpetrated with illegally obtained firearms, attributing the issue to Vice President Kamala Harris and the border policies that have led to a “massive influx” of illegal guns from Mexico. He advocated for improved security measures in schools, suggesting that “we’ve got to make the windows stronger … we’ve got to increase school resource officers.”
In response, Walz posed a critical question to the audience: “I ask all of you out there, do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?” He continued, “Is that what we have to do when we know there are countries around the world where their children aren’t practicing these types of drills? They’re being kids. We owe it to them to get a fix.”
This exchange underscores the differing approaches and perspectives on addressing gun violence and its impact on American communities, particularly in schools.