‘We’re all sitting ducks’ without more substantial gun control, Warnock says

Département de recherche, d’études stratégiques et de relations internationales 09-09-2024

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock has stressed the urgent need for more comprehensive gun control measures, warning that Americans are “sitting ducks” without significant legislative action. His remarks, made on NBC’s *Meet the Press* just days after a deadly shooting at a high school in Georgia, called for Congress to address the nation’s gun violence crisis.

The tragedy at Appalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers, allegedly at the hands of a teenager using a military-style rifle. Warnock’s comments were in response to Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, who had referred to US schools as “soft targets” for violent attacks. While Vance called for heightened school security, Warnock countered that such incidents occur not only in schools but also in places like spas, shopping malls, and houses of worship, emphasizing the need for broader gun safety measures.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive and Education Week indicates that of the nearly 390 mass shootings reported in the US this year, only three occurred in schools, including the Appalachee attack. However, the Appalachee shooting was one of 23 mass murders reported in 2023, defined as incidents where four or more people were killed.

Warnock criticized suggestions to “harden” schools, questioning the logic of turning the entire country into a fortress. He reiterated the call for “common sense” gun safety reforms, pointing out that most Americans support stronger gun control laws. Citing an April 2023 Fox News poll, Warnock highlighted that the majority of Americans favor strengthening gun safety regulations, such as universal background checks and restricting access to assault-style rifles and semi-automatic weapons.

Although Congress has made some progress, with a bipartisan bill passed to expand background checks for young buyers and fund mental health programs, Warnock argued that these measures are insufficient. He attributed the lack of more substantial action to politicians who prioritize the interests of the gun lobby, which provides financial backing to their campaigns.

On Sunday, the National Rifle Association (NRA) responded to Warnock’s comments by posting a video of him discussing a potential mandatory gun buyback program. While Warnock did not explicitly endorse such a program, he emphasized the need for Congress to take action on gun reform. The NRA, however, claimed that Warnock aims to confiscate guns from law-abiding Americans.

In the Appalachee shooting case, the suspect, a 14-year-old, faces murder charges, and his father has been charged with second-degree murder for gifting his son the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack. Warnock concluded his remarks by asserting, “Fourteen-year-olds don’t need AR-15s.”