In the wake of yet another tragic mass shooting, the familiar narrative of assigning blame has resurfaced, as highlighted by C.
Douglas Golden in an opinion piece for the Western Journal.
The incident in question occurred at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, where a transgender former student, known for harboring anti-religious sentiments, opened fire, resulting in the deaths of at least two children. This event has reignited the debate over gun violence and the responsibility of political leaders in addressing such tragedies.
Golden points to a Washington Post headline featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, calling for action against gun violence. This, he argues, is a predictable response when the focus shifts to the weapon rather than the underlying issues.
Governor Walz described the shooting as part of a pattern "all too common not just in Minnesota, but across this country." However, Golden suggests that the pattern might be more accurately described as a series of attacks by individuals with mental health issues or specific ideological motivations targeting religious or conservative groups.
Mayor Frey, in his remarks, emphasized the prevalence of firearms in the United States, stating, "weve got more guns in this country than we have people." Yet, Golden criticizes this stance, suggesting that it overlooks the correlation between certain demographics and politically motivated violence.
Frey, during a CNN appearance, dismissed the notion of targeting specific communities, asserting that those who "use this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any community has lost touch with a common humanity."
Golden further criticizes Governor Walz for failing to provide security funding for non-public schools, despite requests from the Minnesota Catholic Conference. The Conference had sought $50 million to establish a security grant program, which would include non-public schools, amid a $17.6 billion budget surplus. However, these requests were denied, leaving non-public schools without the same level of protection as public institutions.
The National Catholic Register reported that none of the previously signed funding bills applied to non-public school safety, despite bipartisan support for such measures. Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, expressed frustration, noting that while Governor Walz acknowledged the need for safety in schools, the necessary appropriations were not made.
In contrast, Golden highlights that Governor Walz allocated funds to create a "trans refuge" to support those seeking gender-affirming care, as reported by OutFront Minnesota. This decision, Golden argues, reflects a prioritization of political alliances over the safety of students in non-public schools.
The opinion piece concludes by questioning the focus on firearms as the primary issue, suggesting that political leaders like Walz and Frey are avoiding more pragmatic solutions to prevent such tragedies. Golden contends that this approach diverts attention from the real issues at hand, leaving communities vulnerable to further violence.
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