Vance and Obama Both Acknowledged the Reality of School Shootings. But Only One Got Slammed by the Media

In the aftermath of the school shooting near Winder, Georgia, in early September, Senator JD Vance stated that school shootings are a "fact of life." Almost instantly, CNN and MSNBC spun his remarks to paint him as cold, indifferent, and callous. They conveniently left out the context of his comments and his calls for practical measures to improve school security. This is the same media that, back in 2015, rallied behind President Obama when he expressed a similar sentiment following the Umpqua Community College shooting, stating, “Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine. The conversation in the aftermath of it. We've become numb to this”. The hypocrisy is glaring.

Same Recognition, Different Reactions

Both Obama and Vance acknowledged the grim reality that shootings have become disturbingly common in America. Yet, look at the disparity in reactions. Obama’s statement was seen as a heartbroken call to action, praised by the media as a plea for change. Vance, on the other hand, was portrayed as indifferent, with MSNBC's Joy Reid calling his response "cold" and "heartless." Reid, without context, even compared his remarks to those of President Trump, taking both out of context to fit a specific narrative. What the media conveniently ignored was that Vance emphasized the need for enhancing school security as a tangible step toward preventing these tragedies.

Media’s Selective Outrage

Let’s not forget how MSNBC's Katy Tur repeatedly questioned why more Americans weren’t out protesting after each mass shooting, suggesting that public outrage should translate into protests against gun rights. In these discussions, the media pushed the false narrative that mass shootings only happen in America, despite studies showing they also occur in other countries. It's a narrative that fits their agenda but conveniently leaves out facts that don't support it. For example, research indicates that while the U.S. has a higher number of mass shootings, it’s not the only country facing this crisis.

In their coverage of Vance's comments, CNN and MSNBC went even further. After Vance spoke out about the necessity of making schools more secure, some CNN and MSNBC hosts picked up on Democratic distortions of his remarks, painting them as a resignation to the violence rather than a call to action for practical solutions. CNN's Jim Acosta gave platforms to gun control activists like Fred Guttenberg and David Hogg to attack Vance, allowing them to falsely assert that he believes school shootings are "a fact of life that we must accept." What they conveniently left out was Vance's advocacy for measures like arming teachers and hardening school defenses to protect students effectively.

Distorting the Narrative

MSNBC's Joy Reid went as far as accusing Vance of being indifferent to the deaths of children, twisting his words to imply that he supports doing nothing. She even brought in frequent guest Basil Smikle, who emotionally stated, "Gun violence has been present in my life for almost all my life. I lost many of my friends growing up to gun culture. So screw you if you think this is a fact of life that I should just get over tomorrow." This visceral response completely misrepresents Vance's point. His statement wasn’t about acceptance but about recognition of a problem that needs to be tackled with real-world solutions, not ineffective legislation.

MSNBC weekend host Ayman Mohyeldin also joined in, allowing The Atlantic's Tom Nichols to claim that Vance suggested school shootings should be "tolerated" as a "fact of life." This is a blatant misrepresentation of what Vance and other Republicans have been advocating for greater school security measures, including arming teachers and improving school safety protocols. The media's portrayal was less about reporting facts and more about pushing a narrative that gun control is the only solution, despite evidence to the contrary.

Misleading Statistics and Narratives

Another aspect of the media’s bias is its use of misleading statistics. They’ve claimed that there have been "several dozen" school shootings in 2024 alone, neglecting to clarify that in most cases, no one was killed, and in some instances, no one was even injured. By inflating these numbers without context, the media manufactures a sense of urgency that supports their anti-2A agenda while ignoring the complex realities surrounding these incidents. In the meantime, they refuse to consider the growing body of evidence suggesting that arming teachers and implementing security measures can make schools safer.

Real Solutions, Not Empty Promises

Vance's approach focuses on practical solutions. He recognizes that while it may not be possible to eliminate every threat, there are measures that can significantly reduce the risk. Strengthening school security, training and arming responsible staff, and adopting measures that deter would-be attackers are proven strategies that could save lives. Yet, the media dismisses these suggestions, insisting instead on gun control policies that often infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens and fail to address the root causes of violence.

Take, for example, schools that have successfully implemented stronger security protocols. Some schools have armed staff and employed other measures that make them harder targets, effectively deterring attacks. The media rarely covers these success stories because they challenge the narrative that the only solution is to restrict gun rights.

Conclusion

Obama and Vance both recognized the same grim reality: school shootings have become disturbingly frequent. The difference is in the media's reaction. Obama was hailed as a compassionate leader, while Vance was vilified as indifferent. Why? Because Vance’s proposed solutions don't align with the anti-2A narrative that dominates mainstream media coverage. This selective outrage highlights a double standard that does nothing to address the actual problem.

If we're truly serious about stopping this cycle of violence, we must look beyond the media's biased narratives and focus on real, effective solutions. Disarming law-abiding citizens and vilifying those who advocate for practical measures won’t stop criminals. Securing our schools, arming responsible staff, and enhancing safety protocols can make a tangible difference in protecting our children without infringing on constitutional rights.

Until the media starts reporting on this issue with honesty and fairness, their outrage will remain hollow, and the cycle of violence will, tragically, continue to be a "fact of life."