CNN is already in Marketing campaign 2024 mode, organising assaults on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

Within the aftermath of the capturing assault at Michigan State College on Monday, CNN host Victor Blackwell on Monday allowed a gun management activist concerned within the Brady Marketing campaign to accuse DeSantis of constructing faculties much less secure with latest loosening of gun management in Florida.

Blackwell started the phase by recalling that it was 5 years in the past {that a} mass capturing occurred at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty in Parkland, Florida, and performed a clip of President Joe Biden talking on the matter. He then launched Aalayah Eastmond, who survived the Parkland assault, as his visitor.

The CNN host started on a deceptive word by blurring smaller mass shootings — lots of which happen in personal residences amongst individuals who know each other — with bigger mass shootings that usually concerned strangers being focused by a rampage killer:

There have now been extra mass shootings in 2023 than there have been days, so, sadly, it was extra doubtless than not that there would have been a mass capturing yesterday, however I’m wondering what went by means of your thoughts if you heard, arising on the five-year remembrance of the capturing in Parkland, there was one other faculty mass capturing?

He then adopted up by asking his anti-gun visitor if college students are safer in faculties than they had been 5 years in the past, main her to complain about Governor DeSantis’s insurance policies, even throwing in a reference on laws on how race-related points are taught:

Truthfully, no. College students will not be safer. If something, college students are much more in danger for the problem of gun violence. For instance, in states like Florida, we’ve folks like Ron DeSantis who’re specializing in making permitless carry a factor whereas taking away books from college students in class. We see legislators concentrate on issues that aren’t as vital when the main explanation for loss of life on this nation for younger folks proper now could be gun violence.

Not pushing again on her complaints in regards to the Florida governor, Blackwell requested his visitor what she thought could be handed now that Republicans management the Home of Representatives: “I’m wondering what you suppose is feasible legislatively now that you simply’re bringing this mission to Washington with what we have seen within the change in management and management within the Home?”

She then pushed for a liberal want record of gun restrictions in addition to elevated social spending:

Completely. Proper now, we all know that assault weapons ban is primary on the highest of the record. Most Individuals agree that no particular person wants a weapon of battle or high-capacity magazines for that matter. We’d like issues like crimson flag legal guidelines throughout the nation. We’d like sources in communities that lack psychological well being entry or sources in faculties for college students. So there’s rather a lot that folks in positions of energy can do, however they select to show their head and shut their eyes to the problem of gun violence.

Not making the plain followup up that states which have already handed such measures have nonetheless continued to have mass shootings, Blackwell adopted up by arguing that such measures would doubtless not be handed due to the change in management.

As common, it was not acknowledged that Republicans have pushed their very own plans for thwarting faculty shootings like arming faculty employees, which has really has research suggesting that such measures work when tried.

This episode of CNN Newsroom was sponsored partially by Safelite. Their contact data is linked.

Transcript follows:

CNN Newsroom

February 14, 2023

2:07 p.m. Japanese

VICTOR BLACKWELL: Properly, the scholars are reeling from this most up-to-date faculty capturing 5 years to the day after one other — 17 college students had been killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty in Parkland, Florida. President Biden spoke in regards to the tragedy only a few minutes in the past. (PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN) Aalayah Eastmond survived that capturing. She is now the co-founder of Brady Marketing campaign’s Group Sufficient program. Aalayah, thanks for being with me. 

There have now been extra mass shootings in 2023 than there have been days, so, sadly, it was extra doubtless than not that there would have been a mass capturing yesterday, however I’m wondering what went by means of your thoughts if you heard, arising on the five-year remembrance of the capturing in Parkland, there was one other faculty mass capturing? What did you suppose first?

(AALAYAH EASTMOND)

We have now watched so many of those faculty shootings within the 5 years between Parkland and East Lansing now — what occurred at Michigan State College final night time — I’m wondering, with all of the work that you simply’re doing at Change the Ref and March for Our Lives — all these organizations — if college students are any safer in faculties than they had been 5 years in the past?

AALAYIAH EASTMOND, GUN CONTROL ACTIVIST: Truthfully, no. College students will not be safer. If something, college students are much more in danger for the problem of gun violence. For instance, in states like Florida, we’ve folks like Ron DeSantis who’re specializing in making permitless carry a factor whereas taking away books from college students in class. We see legislators concentrate on issues that aren’t as vital when the main explanation for loss of life on this nation for younger folks proper now could be gun violence. So, you understand, the work that we’re doing is just not going unnoticed, however we’ve observed that younger persons are nonetheless disproportionately impacted by the problem of gun violence.

BLACKWELL: You are in D.C. for the By no means Once more tour, which is to mark the 5 years for the reason that Marjorie Stoneman Douglas capturing with different survivors, victims’ households. This clearly was deliberate earlier than the capturing occurred final night time. I’m wondering what you suppose is feasible legislatively now that you simply’re bringing this mission to Washington with what we have seen within the change in management and management within the Home?

EASTMOND: Completely. Proper now, we all know that assault weapons ban is primary on the highest of the record. Most Individuals agree that no particular person wants a weapon of battle or high-capacity magazines for that matter. We’d like issues like crimson flag legal guidelines throughout the nation. We’d like sources in communities that lack psychological well being entry or sources in faculties for college students. So there’s rather a lot that folks in positions of energy can do, however they select to show their head and shut their eyes to the problem of gun violence.

BLACKWELL: However on this atmosphere with the brand new management within the Home, an assault weapons ban is extremely unlikely. Are there parts that you simply suppose usually tend to get by means of Congress and get to this President’s desk? I do know there’s a whole lot of work that is occurring on the state degree in some areas. However, federally, do you suppose there are one or two that may occur?

EASTMOND: Completely. For me, personally, I’ll proceed to push for sources in our impoverished communities throughout the nation. It is vital to essentially take heed to people from particular communities like Brooklyn, Chicago, Birmingham, even Boward County, Florida. However actually and really, we actually want to take a position extra money into our communities. …