Tennessee’s current gun laws: lax
Gun laws in Tennessee have become less strict over the last few years after lawmakers approved legislation that removed requirements for permits and background checks.
— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2023
Here's what we know about gun laws in the state. https://t.co/UwUFvL5aua
Responses to the shooting
Of course, we heard “thoughts and prayers” from the local Tennessee congressman, Andy Ogles:
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) March 27, 2023
By the way, here is the congressman’s most recent Christmas card:
THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville. #tnleg pic.twitter.com/IpkLzZs5m5
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 27, 2023
And here is an honest assessment from another Tennessee rep: “We’re not going to fix it.”
THEY DON'T SAY THIS ABOUT ANY OTHER TYPE OF CRIME. But when it comes to the ability to use weapons of war against civilians, they say nothing can and should be done, because people who want to shoot up schools are going to shoot up schools, so let the chips fall where they may. https://t.co/Y9FY4ZppNa
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) March 28, 2023
I could find no statement from either of WV’s senators. Meanwhile, Ohio Senator JD Vance found a scapegoat to deflect blame from guns:
We're still learning about the horrific shooting in Nashville. But if early reports are accurate that a trans shooter targeted a Christian school, there needs to be a lot of soul searching on the extreme left. Giving in to these ideas isn't compassion, it's dangerous.
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) March 27, 2023
It's hard not to become cynical
Jeff Tiedrich sums it up well:
#BREAKING: Well-Regulated Militia Opens Fire In The Covenant Christian School In Nashville TN; Cheap Thoughts And Useless Prayers Now Being Rushed To The Scene ... more on this soon-to-be-forgotten-and-then-repeated story as it develops ...
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) March 27, 2023
Of course, The Onion, as it always does after a mass shooting, publishes the same post:
‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens https://t.co/LrNke2WimM pic.twitter.com/Aw8cO8EUKX
— The Onion (@TheOnion) March 27, 2023
Its conclusion:
At press time, residents of the only economically advanced nation in the world where roughly two mass shootings have occurred every month for the past eight years were referring to themselves and their situation as “helpless.”
