On Sunday, the heated debate between White House senior director for counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka and CNN host Brianna Keilar on “State of the Union” grabbed the attention of viewers across the country. The topic of discussion? Mass shootings committed by transgender individuals.
Gorka, a staunch defender of President Trump’s policies, stood firm in his stance that there is a direct connection between transgender individuals and mass shootings. Keilar, on the other hand, challenged Gorka’s claims and cited statistics that showed no evidence of such a correlation.
The exchange began when Keilar asked Gorka for his thoughts on the recent mass shooting in Texas, where the shooter had identified as transgender. Gorka responded by saying, “We have to look at the facts, not CNN’s pseudo-facts.” He went on to argue that the Obama administration’s policies on gender identity have contributed to the rise in mass shootings.
Keilar quickly countered his claims, stating that there is no evidence to support this theory and that Gorka’s statements were unfounded. She also reminded him that mass shootings have been a problem in the US long before the Obama administration.
Gorka, however, refused to back down and continued to assert that the Obama administration’s policies have led to an increase in mass shootings committed by transgender individuals. He also accused CNN of spreading false information and ignoring the real issue at hand.
The debate between Gorka and Keilar highlights a larger issue in today’s society – the politicization of tragic events. Instead of coming together to find solutions, individuals are quick to point fingers and assign blame to their political opponents.
But let’s focus on the facts. According to a study by the Center for American Progress, transgender individuals are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators. In fact, the study found that transgender individuals are three times more likely to experience police violence compared to the general population.
Furthermore, a study by Everytown for Gun Safety found that the majority of mass shootings in the US are committed by individuals who are not transgender. The study also found that the majority of mass shootings are committed by individuals who have a history of domestic violence, not by those who identify as transgender.
So why is Gorka so insistent on blaming transgender individuals for mass shootings? Perhaps it is a tactic to deflect from the real issue at hand – the need for stricter gun control laws. Instead of addressing the root cause of mass shootings, individuals like Gorka are quick to point fingers and create a scapegoat.
It is time to have a real conversation about gun violence in America. Instead of politicizing tragic events, we must come together to find solutions that will help prevent these senseless acts of violence. This includes enacting stricter gun control laws and addressing mental health issues.
In addition, we must also address the discrimination and violence faced by the transgender community. Transgender individuals are already marginalized in society and are too often victims of hate crimes. Blaming them for mass shootings only further perpetuates this discrimination and adds to the already existing stigma surrounding the transgender community.
In conclusion, the exchange between Gorka and Keilar on “State of the Union” highlights the need for factual and evidence-based discussions on important issues. It is time to put aside political agendas and work towards finding real solutions to gun violence in America. Let us not use tragic events as a platform for political gain, but rather as a call to action to create a safer society for all individuals.