In one week, we saw individuals from both sides of the aisle politicize a tragedy to advance their own agenda.
Following the death of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts allegedly by an immigrant who was in the country illegally, President Trump used her story to call for tougher immigration policies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
Days later in Jacksonville, Fla., two people were killed and 9 others were injured by a gunman, who, before turning the gun on himself, was upset about losing a competitive video game of Madden NFL Football.
You had countless celebrities immediately politicize the tragedy continuing with the usual lines of calling for gun control or dubbing the NRA as a terrorist organization.
It’s happened again in Florida. At least 4 dead. At least 11 injured.
Florida’s primary elections are Tuesday. #Vote.
Honor these victims by voting for candidates that reject the @NRA.
Be a hero. #JacksonvilleLanding #NoRA
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 26, 2018
A white male opened fire yesterday & American families are mourning the senseless loss of loved ones. Others are fighting for their lives in hospitals.
Trump remains silent, golfs & boasts about his approval numbers.
Radical Domestic Terrorism.https://t.co/G4TIOuRsHy
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) August 27, 2018
Read below. 4 dead and 10 injured in Florida today. No Congressperson is a hero who takes millions from the NRA. Florida primaries are TUESDAY. Please vote and choose wisely. https://t.co/bnXYpmSfj9
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 26, 2018
Even Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., took their turns politicizing the tragedy on Twitter.
I’m heartbroken for Jacksonville. No community should have to suffer from such senseless gun violence. When will Congress have the courage to stand up to the NRA and pass meaningful reforms to help prevent these shootings in America?
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) August 27, 2018
72 hours in America. 85 people dead because of gun violence. https://t.co/yVY8DF7P2t
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 27, 2018
The main argument that’s being used by both sides is “If now’s not the time to politicize this issue, than when is it appropriate?”
But it’s not the timing that’s the issue, it’s that these talking points are completely irrelevant to the specific tragedies they’re focusing on.
In the case of Tibbetts, the main talking point is that immigrants who are in the country illegally are the main perpetrators of violent crime.
According to analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, and the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program by Business Insider, the immigrant population rose by 118 percent between 1980 and 2016. During that same time period, the rate of violent crime fell by 36 percent.
In the case of Jacksonville, the shooter used a handgun, killing two people, and wounding 9 others before turning it on himself. The main talking points by the pro-gun control movement is that they’re looking to make it tougher for individuals to carry a gun, specifically weapons of war and strengthening background checks for individuals suffering from mental illness.
The Jacksonville shooter purchased his guns legally in Maryland, which has some of the toughest restrictions in the country to obtain a gun. Officials found he was treated for psychiatric issues after his parents divorced when he was 12. There was also a history of police visits to his home. Yet, politicians and media personalities, alike, are trying to tighten gun laws in Florida where the shooting happened.
Here’s how ridiculously easy it is to get a gun in Floridahttps://t.co/T3HZiWisTl
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) August 28, 2018
Bottom line: bringing up irrelevant information to push a narrative does nothing to actually advance good policy, all it does is muddy the waters and make it more difficult to find solutions on these sensitive issues.
