The GOP’s blind gun loyalty is about to hit a Gen Z wall

For many of us, this is the time to pull out our swimsuits and start planning our vacations.

But for the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the arrival of spring means it’s time to start planning for mass shootings.

Why now? Sadly, warmer weather brings Increase in gun violence.

So in mid-April, staff from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention held a rally. kickoff meeting Toward a new multi-agency team designed to deliverFEMA-like” coordinated response to a mass shooting incident. The idea is to send multiple teams to the scene within 24 hours of a mass shooting. Officials from the Ministry of Justice will be included to set up family support centers and those from the Department of Education to help reopen schools.

This is very sobering news. On the one hand, it’s good to see such a strong reaction underway. On the other hand, of course, it is heartbreaking that this has happened, because a civilized society should not only be able to respond to genocide, but also be able to prevent it.

Shooting after shooting, death after death, and the right continues to signal that it does not oppose restrictions on gun sales or use.In the wake of horrific mass shootings, Republicans at the state level Expanding access To the gun.

And being a Republican with national ambitions I need it to hug you Far-right gun worship.Why else would South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) tell the world? She once shot her own puppy, Who will always go all out on guns if she doesn’t prove the vice president-elect? (that Looks like it backfired, by the way. )

What’s especially puzzling about this is that polls show that most Americans I want stricter gun control. To give one frustrating example, most voters Ban Regarding assault weapons. But late last year, Senate Republicans again blocked the bill.

Fortunately, there are some bright spots at the federal level.

The Biden administration is focusing on Strengthening background checks For gun buyers and Closing the gun show loophole This allowed people to bypass background checks by purchasing weapons online or at places like shows and flea markets. Gun show loopholes have long been a disastrous source of deadly violence. Including the Columbine murders. It was 25 years ago, so I’m very happy that it’s closing this year.

But there is still much work to be done.

And I believe this is an area where young people can lead the way.

I think of 27-year-old Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida). signature problem Preventing gun violence. Frost was a driving force behind the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

now he is my sponsor invoice Stop selling “zombie guns.” Zombie guns come to market when gun disposal contractors (usually working with local governments that have gun buyback programs) destroy only part of the gun and sell the rest as kits. .

He also sponsors Laws that authorize credit card companies Enable gun and ammunition sales to be coded so suspicious patterns can be tracked and flagged. Purchases worth $26,000 The Pulse nightclub shooter committed moments before committing a horrific crime.

If passed, this law would override laws in several states that actually prohibit credit card companies from doing this. I just signed Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) of Mr. Frost’s home state of Florida.

The passion of Millennials and Gen Zers like Frost on this issue is encouraging. Perhaps even more reassuring is the sign that it’s not just limited to her one political party.

After all, young progressives aren’t the only ones who grew up in an era of school shootings and other mass violence. Today’s young Republicans are no different.

This is why the staunch pro-gun positions of older right-wing Republicans now appear unwarranted. alienate some younger members of the party. This gives us hope that perhaps the most hostile opposition to common sense gun control is disappearing.

It’s painful to remember how bad May was for mass shootings in America. Not just the tragedy of Columbine. Tops grocery store shooting incident And that Uvalde school shooting incident Their anniversary is also this month. So I’m glad that the White House is doing the modest work of preparing for the terrifying possibility of future violence.

I hope that’s not necessary.

Mr. Svante Myrick american people.