JD Vance under fire for allegedly downplaying school shootings by calling them a ‘fact of life’

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance drew social media ire for understating school shootings, saying it was a “fact of life", after a portion of his comments were taken of out context by a news agency and on a video by the Kamala Harris campaign's X account.

Speaking to rallygoers in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, September 5, the Ohio senator said, "If these psychos are going to go after our kids we’ve got to be prepared for it," as per Raw Story.

"We don't have to like the reality that we live in, but it is the reality we live in. We've got to deal with it."

Vance's remarks came a day after four were killed in a fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia when a 14-year-old student opened fire. The victims included two students and two teachers.

JD Vance says he doesn't like it that school shootings are a 'fact of life'

A journalist questioned JD Vance on what could be done to stop shootings in schools. In response, the GOP VP candidate advocated for bolstering security in schools, claiming restricting gun access would not put an end to it.

"I don’t like that this is a fact of life," he said.

"But if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets. And we have got to bolster security at our schools. We’ve got to bolster security so if a psycho wants to walk through the front door and kill a bunch of children they're not able," Vance added.

He said further restricting access to guns, as many Democrats advocate, won't end them, noting that such incidents happen in states with both lax and strict gun laws. 

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign slammed the Republican's alleged soft-pedalled remarks about school shootings, saying Donald Trump and his running mate Vance would choose the NRA and gun lobby over children, adding it was the "choice" of the 2024 election.

The vice president, who heads the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, has backed the prohibition of AR-15 rifle sales and increasing security at schools to prevent similar massacres.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia school shooting suspect's father, Colin Gray, 54, was arrested with charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder and cruelty to children, reported CNN.

JD Vance's spokesperson slams misleading comments 

A spokesman for JD Vance later slammed media reports that implied the Republican vice presidential candidate had dismissed school shootings as a "fact of life".

In an exclusive comment to Fox News Digital, Vance spokesperson William Martin attacked the AP.  "This is yet another case of the fake news media brazenly lying about a Republican politician. Senator Vance said exactly the opposite of what the Associated Press claimed."

"It should come as no surprise that the AP lost any and all credibility it had years ago, because they will lie about literally anything in order prop up the Democrats. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has called for all police officers to be removed from schools, putting children all over America at risk."

"It's yet another example of how Kamala Harris' weak, failed, and dangerously liberal agenda makes her unfit for office," Martin said.  

Outrage over JD Vance for allegedly calling school shootings 'fact of life'

JD Vance's comment that school shootings were a "fact of life" led to widespread backlash on social media. However, netizens slammed the senator based on the edited portions of his Phoenix speech shared by Harris' campaign on X (formerly Twitter), taking the remarks out of context.

Many on social media disagreed with him and called his remarks "appalling".

"They don’t have to be and anyone that says that is unserious and a horrible human being. The GOP loves guns more than children and I wonder how JD Vance reconciles that position while identifying as Christian?" a user asked.

"@JDVance that is truly abhorrent. No school shooting should be acceptable. Very misplaced values," another remarked.

"JD, school shootings are NOT a fact of life. They are an aberration of life. Get out of the way you tiny little confused teenager and let the adults handle this," added a third user.

"No. School shootings are not now, and have never been a fact of life. The fact that he has no emotion towards the dead teachers and students if psychotic. No student should have to attend school under armed security. Not now, not ever," read a fourth response.

"This guy literally is the epitomoe of stupid," someone else wrote.

"This uniquely American phenomenon is "a fact of life" JD is truly appalling. Somehow becomes less likable every time he opens his mouth," an individual chimed in.

"Hey @JDVance This would be one of those times for you where it's better to shut up. School mass shootings were unheard of before Columbine happened. You were only 14 then. Stick to what you actually know, which apparently isn't much," another user added.

"Sick and disgusted," read one remark.

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