In the aftermath of yet another tragic school shooting in Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference to address the state’s response. Flanked by law enforcement officers and first responders, Kemp offered the standard condolences and praised the heroism of those who acted during the crisis. However, when asked about what more can be done to prevent shootings like this, Kemp’s response left many of us speechless—not because of what he said, but because of what he didn’t say.
“Today is not the day for politics or policy,” Kemp remarked. His statement, intended to show compassion, instead highlighted a glaring issue with how many Republican leaders approach the growing epidemic of gun violence in America: they never seem to want to talk about real solutions.
This isn’t just an isolated incident. Time and again, Republicans—including Kemp—offer “thoughts and prayers” after tragedies like these, but fail to follow up with any meaningful action to address the root causes of these mass shootings or to make schools, places of worship, and other “soft targets” safer. The cycle has become tragically predictable.
Governor Kemp refuses to answer a question about how to make Georgia schools safer from gun violence: “This is not the day to talk about safety or policy. We need thoughts and prayers for the victims, law enforcement and educators.”
Would he say that if a plane had just crashed? pic.twitter.com/T25EMPt8Mg
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) September 5, 2024
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Meanwhile – this is what Georgia students say they experienced during this tragedy:
The GOP’s Consistent Inaction on School Safety
When it comes to making schools safer, the Republican playbook is clear: deflect, mourn, but avoid any serious conversations about gun regulation or preventative measures. While there have been numerous opportunities to address this issue head-on, the discussion is typically shut down. Governor Kemp’s recent press conference is a perfect example.
When asked about additional school safety measures that could prevent these tragedies, Kemp evaded the question, instead shifting the focus to the heroism of first responders and law enforcement. While it’s undeniable that these individuals performed admirably, the governor’s refusal to discuss actionable solutions is part of a broader pattern of avoiding policy discussions in favor of platitudes.
This reluctance is not limited to Kemp. Republicans, as a whole, have consistently resisted calls for gun reform or even school safety measures that don’t involve arming teachers or increasing police presence in schools. It’s worth noting that former President Donald Trump did make a notable exception in 2018 when he signed into law a regulation banning bump stocks following the Las Vegas shooting. However, this was later overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court, a decision that some legal analysts argue reflects the Court’s ongoing shift toward a more permissive interpretation of the Second Amendment.
The Importance of the Second Amendment—And Its Limits
To be clear, the Second Amendment is a foundational part of the U.S. Constitution, providing a crucial right to bear arms. It’s a protection enshrined alongside others such as freedom of speech and religion, and as such, it deserves respect. However, it’s critical to remember that the text of the amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The phrase “well regulated” suggests that the government has the authority to impose reasonable regulations on firearms.
Regulation, therefore, is not unconstitutional, but rather an intended part of the system. Despite this, Republican lawmakers and many in conservative circles have framed any discussion of gun regulation as an attack on individual freedoms, when, in fact, the founding documents suggest a more thoughtful, balanced approach.
The U.S. Gun Violence Problem: A Global Outlier
The United States stands alone among developed nations in its gun violence problem. According to a 2022 report by the Gun Violence Archive, there were 647 mass shootings in the U.S. in that year alone, which averages nearly two mass shootings per day. Data from the U.S. government shows that over 494 million guns have been manufactured to be sold to Americans since 1899; this is more than the country’s entire population. In contrast, countries like Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom, which have enacted strict gun control laws, experience exponentially fewer incidents of gun violence. For example, in 2020, Japan reported only 10 gun-related deaths, compared to the U.S.’s staggering 45,000 in the same year, according to data from the CDC.
The U.S. is the only wealthy nation where mass shootings occur with such frequency, and this is largely due to the ease with which firearms—particularly semi-automatic weapons—are available. Despite overwhelming public support for common-sense gun reforms such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on high-capacity magazines, legislative action has been minimal at best.
The Path Forward: A Well-Regulated Militia
If nothing changes, the tragic scenes we’ve witnessed will continue to play out again and again, leaving grieving families and communities in their wake. The Second Amendment should not be used as an excuse to avoid taking action. Instead, it should serve as a guiding principle for a well-regulated system where gun ownership is both protected and responsible.
The federal government, along with state leaders like Governor Kemp, have an obligation to protect citizens—not only by responding to tragedies after they happen but by preventing them in the first place. This requires a thoughtful approach that takes into account the need for both individual rights and collective safety. A refusal to engage in meaningful policy discussions about gun regulation, as Kemp demonstrated in his response, is not only negligent but dangerous.
Final Thoughts
Governor Kemp’s non-answer to a question about school safety is emblematic of the broader failure of many Republican leaders to address gun violence with actionable solutions. While Kemp may have chosen to sidestep the issue, the fact remains that gun violence in America is a uniquely American problem—and one that won’t go away with more “thoughts and prayers.”
Without serious policy discussions and legislative reforms, soft targets like schools and places of worship will continue to be vulnerable. America’s gun violence crisis is not inevitable, and while the Second Amendment must be respected, so too must the call for reasonable, life-saving measures to protect our communities. As Governor Kemp sidesteps policy questions, the real issue continues to be avoided: how to stop this epidemic of violence before it claims more lives.
Featured image via screengrab
