CNN is already in Campaign 2024 mode, setting up attacks on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In the aftermath of the shooting attack at Michigan State University on Monday, CNN host Victor Blackwell on Monday allowed a gun control activist involved in the Brady Campaign to accuse DeSantis of making schools less safe with recent loosening of gun control in Florida.
Blackwell began the segment by recalling that it was five years ago that a mass shooting occurred at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and played a clip of President Joe Biden speaking on the matter. He then introduced Aalayah Eastmond, who survived the Parkland attack, as his guest.
The CNN host began on a misleading note by blurring smaller mass shootings -- many of which occur in private residences among people who know one another -- with larger mass shootings that often involved strangers being targeted by a rampage killer:
There have now been more mass shootings in 2023 than there have been days, so, sadly, it was more likely than not that there would have been a mass shooting yesterday, but I wonder what went through your mind when you heard, coming up on the five-year remembrance of the shooting in Parkland, there was another school mass shooting?
He then followed up by asking his anti-gun guest if students are safer in schools than they were five years ago, leading her to complain about Governor DeSantis's policies, even throwing in a reference on regulations on how race-related issues are taught:
Honestly, no. Students are not safer. If anything, students are even more at risk for the issue of gun violence. For example, in states like Florida, we have people like Ron DeSantis who are focusing on making permitless carry a thing while taking away books from students in school. We see legislators focus on things that are not as important when the leading cause of death in this country for young people right now is gun violence.
Not pushing back on her complaints about the Florida governor, Blackwell asked his guest what she thought might be passed now that Republicans control the House of Representatives: "I wonder what you think is possible legislatively now that you're bringing this mission to Washington with what we've seen in the change in leadership and control in the House?"
She then pushed for a liberal wish list of gun restrictions as well as increased social spending:
Absolutely. Right now, we know that assault weapons ban is number one on the top of the list. Most Americans agree that no individual needs a weapon of war or high-capacity magazines for that matter. We need things like red flag laws across the country. We need resources in communities that lack mental health access or resources in schools for students. So there's a lot that people in positions of power can do, but they choose to turn their head and close their eyes to the issue of gun violence.
Not making the obvious followup up that states that have already passed such measures have still continued to have mass shootings, Blackwell followed up by arguing that such measures would likely not be passed because of the change in leadership.
As usual, it was not acknowledged that Republicans have pushed their own plans for thwarting school shootings like arming school staff, which has actually has studies suggesting that such measures work when tried.
This episode of CNN Newsroom was sponsored in part by Safelite. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN Newsroom
February 14, 2023
2:07 p.m. Eastern
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Well, the students are reeling from this most recent school shooting five years to the day after another -- 17 students were killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. President Biden spoke about the tragedy just a few minutes ago. (PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN) Aalayah Eastmond survived that shooting. She is now the co-founder of Brady Campaign's Team Enough program. Aalayah, thank you for being with me.
There have now been more mass shootings in 2023 than there have been days, so, sadly, it was more likely than not that there would have been a mass shooting yesterday, but I wonder what went through your mind when you heard, coming up on the five-year remembrance of the shooting in Parkland, there was another school mass shooting? What did you think first?
(AALAYAH EASTMOND)
We have watched so many of these school shootings in the five years between Parkland and East Lansing now -- what happened at Michigan State University last night -- I wonder, with all the work that you're doing at Change the Ref and March for Our Lives -- all these organizations -- if students are any safer in schools than they were five years ago?
AALAYIAH EASTMOND, GUN CONTROL ACTIVIST: Honestly, no. Students are not safer. If anything, students are even more at risk for the issue of gun violence. For example, in states like Florida, we have people like Ron DeSantis who are focusing on making permitless carry a thing while taking away books from students in school. We see legislators focus on things that are not as important when the leading cause of death in this country for young people right now is gun violence. So, you know, the work that we're doing is not going unnoticed, but we have noticed that young people are still disproportionately impacted by the issue of gun violence.
BLACKWELL: You're in D.C. for the Never Again tour, which is to mark the five years since the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas shooting with other survivors, victims' families. This obviously was planned before the shooting happened last night. I wonder what you think is possible legislatively now that you're bringing this mission to Washington with what we've seen in the change in leadership and control in the House?
EASTMOND: Absolutely. Right now, we know that assault weapons ban is number one on the top of the list. Most Americans agree that no individual needs a weapon of war or high-capacity magazines for that matter. We need things like red flag laws across the country. We need resources in communities that lack mental health access or resources in schools for students. So there's a lot that people in positions of power can do, but they choose to turn their head and close their eyes to the issue of gun violence.
BLACKWELL: But in this environment with the new leadership in the House, an assault weapons ban is highly unlikely. Are there elements that you think are more likely to get through Congress and get to this President's desk? I know there's a lot of work that's happening on the state level in some areas. But, federally, do you think there are one or two that can happen?
EASTMOND: Absolutely. For me, personally, I will continue to push for resources in our impoverished communities across the country. It's important to really listen to individuals from specific communities like Brooklyn, Chicago, Birmingham, even Boward County, Florida. But really and truly, we really need to invest more money into our communities. ...
