CNN’s Jim Acosta reacted to the breaking news of a shooting that resulted in no deaths or injuries at Tysons Corner Mall in Virginia on Saturday by suggesting a lack of gun control contributed to the situation. Meanwhile, national security analyst Juliette Kayyem declared that is hard for teenagers to flee such situations because of alleged racism in the police and attacked America's “culture.”
The shooting was the result of an argument, but Acosta led Kayyem with more of a declaration about than a question about those who got out of harm’s way, “If you're the parent of a teenager at home, I—I-- am one myself. Teenagers around the world don't do this on a regular basis. Basically only American teenagers do this.”
The questionable assertion that American teens are uniquely exposed to violence aside, Kayyem agreed and claimed she has had talks with her children about what to do in such circumstances, “if there's an incident like this that—that--, you know, the most heroic move they can make is run, right? That your judgment has to be to—to-- run.”
However, that can be “very hard. And when you think of other issues like racial issues and others that many teenage—teenagers-- face, African-American boys and whatever else, it is not -- it is a -- with police.”
As if that inappropriate retort wasn’t enough, Kayyem kept going, “it is a tense time and if anything, if there's any benefit to being on right now, besides the fact we have—we had-- a shooting incident with no deaths, is to remind people that it's the shooting incident that is—that is-- the bad news, right? And—and-- the fact that there were no deaths is a pretty low floor and we should remind ourselves of that in a culture that is seeing these mass shootings once a day.”
Something can be horrible, but not fit into a national narrative. But, Acosta has a narrative, which he pushed while concluding the segment, “it's just a reminder that the specter of mass gun violence hangs over every community in the United States of America, it's just the way of life in this country right now. It's become an accepted way of life for—for-- many Americans and we should note this is also occurring as gun legislation is—is-- once again predictably stalling in the Senate.”
While the situation in Virginia was obviously horrible, Acosta and the media keeps changing the definition of a mass shooting to push gun control. Even using their usual pro-gun control sources, this situation would not have qualified.
This segment was sponsored by Chase.
Here is a transcript for the June 18 show:
CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta
6/18/2022
3:47 AM ET
JIM ACOSTA: If you're the parent of a teenager at home, I—I-- am one myself. Teenagers around the world don't do this on a regular basis. Basically only American teenagers do this.
JULIETTE KAYYEM: That's right, Jim, and I have teenagers, too. I have teenage boys who, you know, I love them to death but sometimes their judgment isn't the best and, you know, I do have to talk to them seriously and then—and these are not -- my -- you know, these are kids that tend not to get into trouble but—but-- if there's an incident like this that—that--, you know, the most heroic move they can make is run, right?
That your judgment has to be to—to-- run. And that's very hard. And when you think of other issues like racial issues and others that many teenage—teenagers-- face, African-American boys and whatever else, it is not -- it is a -- with police.
It is not a –- it is a tense time and if anything, if there's any benefit to being on right now, besides the fact we have—we had-- a shooting incident with no deaths, is to remind people that it's the shooting incident that is—that is-- the bad news, right? And—and-- the fact that there were no deaths is a pretty low floor and we should remind ourselves of that in a culture that is seeing these mass shootings once a day.
ACOSTA: But, it's just a reminder that the specter of mass gun violence hangs over every community in the United States of America, it's just the way of life in this country right now. It's become an accepted way of life for—for-- many Americans and we should note this is also occurring as gun legislation is—is-- once again predictably stalling in the Senate. Juliette Kayyem, thank you very much we appreciate your time.
