By Nancy Thorner & Ed Ingold -
The shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas brought renewed calls for a “solution” that would prevent similar occurrences in the future, after Dimitrios Pagourtzis Jr., 17, decided to kill ten innocent classmates and injure ten more. As is often the situation, Dimitrios Pagourtzis' family members said they were "as shocked and confused as anyone" by the events that occurred. Pagourtzis, they said, is a "smart, quiet, sweet boy."
Trump weighed in on the incident, addressing a stunned nation shortly after the senseless and horrific school shooting:
“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…”
As could be predicted, anti-gun operatives showed their lack of empathy in the wake of the Texas tragedy by foregoing the sympathy and going straight to their gun narrative.
Parkland Political Activist Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg jumped to Twitter to express their gun hatred and how they think Gun Control is the only option. Emma Gonzalez had this to say:
“Santa Fe High, you didn’t deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices.”
Followed by Hogg: “Get ready for two weeks of media coverage of politicians acting like they give a shit when in reality they just want to boost their approval ratings before midterms.”
Would more gun control, mental health screening, background checks and better school security have had any effect on the outcome of the Santa Fe High shooting? Not likely.
- The weapons used in Texas were not so-called “assault weapons,” or “weapons of war,” (both exaggerations), rather a shot gun and a .38 Special revolver. This, however, will not deter a renewed call for banning “assault weapons.” After all, that’s a convenient "one size fits all solution.” It is abundantly clear that anti-gun factions wish to ban all firearms, and singling out “assault weapons” is only seen as an easy start. Curiously, the major media reported the shooter used a “sawed-off shotgun,” which would have been a serious violation of Federal law, even if it were true (it was not).
- The weapons belonged to the suspect’s father, legally owned.
- There is no record of mental health issues regarding the shooter, and only anecdotal evidence thereof by his unconventional manner of dress – a long trench coat, even in hot weather.
- At least one of his classmates cited a history of bullying by a coach or coaches on the football team, of which he was a member. The school has not responded to this allegation.
- School security neglected the art room where the murders occurred, which had an unsecured door opening to a parking area behind the school. The assailant entered through this door. Despite lessons from Lakewood, Florida, someone (not the shooter) activated the fire alarm, which brought students into the hall, rather than the relative safety of their classrooms. The armed school security officer was one of the first casualties, left wounded, incapacitated and in critical condition.
There is a significant difference between the Santa Fe High School shooting and that of Broward High School in Florida — authorities acted. While the Broward County Sheriff Department took a defensive position, the Texas Authorities reacted, went on the offensive, and likely saved lives with their bravery.
Here is how Texas Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw addressed the Santa Fe High incident and the way the officer’s handled it:
“When you get these calls, every police officer, no matter where you are, has to immediately engage the active shooter, period,” Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters. “There’s no alternative. Because every second means that someone else is going to die.”
“The brave officers, independent school district here in Santa Fe, stepped up to the plate, engaged. One is in critical condition right now. The other one, the chief got there on scene, was able to rescue his officer, and a Texas state trooper also engaged the suspect. And we know that because they were willing to run in to that building … other lives could be saved. That’s absolutely important.”
What is the common thread nobody talks about?: 24/7 news accounts for days after the incident, plus the publicity given for those who express solutions to what went wrong, and protests to promote those “solutions.”
According to the late artist Andy Warhol, everybody gets 15 minutes of fame. The twist is, that in 15 minutes a “nobody” becomes famous for days, weeks or months. This particular solution eludes even the most totalitarian governments, much less one in which the freedom of speech is guaranteed by a Constitution.
Similarly, banning all firearms from private possession is unconstitutional, even under the most liberal decisions by the Supreme Court. In the decision to uphold the 1934 National Firearms Act, which restricted machine guns and “sawed-off” shotguns, it was on the basis that they were NOT weapons of war, hence not subject to the Second Amendment.
