I have posted on several occasions about my experience with gun violence and recovery from the resulting trauma. The thirty-year journey of recovery from witnessing a person kill two human beings and then holding my classmates and me hostage has been hell. It is not something I ever discuss lightly or without purpose. Gun violence is terrible and devastating. The use of a firearm in any capacity is something to be taken seriously, with adult reasoning and purpose. The use of a gun should be reserved for the military in defense of our country, the police for when they must defend themselves and others, for self-protection at home, and for sport in the form of hunting and target shooting.
The presumptive Republican Presidential nominee has triggered great fear and concern in me with comments made in a speech from early October (links at end of post). The former President suggests that under his next administration shoplifters will be shot if they rob a store and try to leave. The former reality star told a group of California Republicans “We will immediately stop all the pillaging and theft. Very simply: If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store”.
This is not the first time the former President has suggested shooting people. He called for shooting migrants to try to deter them from crossing the border. Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper states in his book that then-President Trump asked about shooting people who were protesting the death of George Floyd.
This absolute disregard for human life in these statements and questions is appalling. The fact that a room full of people cheered his shoplifter comment is even more appalling.
Quite frankly, I don’t want to hear or entertain discussions about Republican vs. Democrat or Trump vs. Biden. The fact of this story is that the supposed leader for the Republican nomination for President promoted gun violence and suggested the disregard of due process (which is a violation of the oath he swore to protect and defend the Constitution). I also have big concerns about a person who was President, and god-save-us, who could be again, having top-of-mind “shooting groups of people” as a solution to problems. This is the solution of dictators not Presidents of the United States.
If you have time listen to NPR’s Up First Podcast episode from Sunday, December 17 where the media’s lack of real coverage of Trump is discussed. It is enlightening. The shoplifter shooting story is one of many examples of questionable things Trump is saying and doing that are getting very little coverage.
Given the numbers, and the cheers over shooting people, I’m not sure increased coverage would matter, but there is power in information.
USA Today Article on Trump’s Speech: https://bit.ly/3TAiDx5
APNews coverage of Trump’s increasing violent rhetoric, including the shoplifter speech and jokes about the attack on Rep. Pelosi’s husband: https://bit.ly/3Rx7TN5
Fox News coverage of the Trump shoplifter speech: https://fxn.ws/4auSQwc
UpFirst Episode from 12.17.23 where the media failure to cover Trump is discussed: https://n.pr/3vbCDMp
