Vigils are meant for grieving. They’re meant for support. They’re meant as a means to remember and honor the fallen. They’re not meant to be political platforms, but that’s exactly what gun control activists and politicians attempted to use it as at STEM School Highlands Ranch following Tuesday’s shooting that left one student dead and eight injured.
Many students didn’t take the politicization well and walked out of the event following Senator Michael Bennet’s (D-CO) and Congressman Jason Crow’s (D-CO) gun-control speeches. There were also representatives from gun control groups at the event. They were invited by Team Enough, the student branch of gun-control group the Brady Campaign. According to some, the gun control advocates at Mom’s Demand Action were the worst.
Wild scene where STEM school kids walked out of Highlands Ranch, upset that the event was the politicians talking about gun control. So they took over themselves and I have their own vigil. #STEMShooting pic.twitter.com/WlIjwctnFo
— Jenny Brundin (@CPRBrundin) May 9, 2019
#9NEWS has reached out to representatives of @SenatorBennet and @RepJasonCrow to discuss the student walkout at the #STEMshooting. We will update our reporting when we heard back from them. #copolitics
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) May 9, 2019
They specifically said that the things that the woman from Moms Demand Action said was "dystopian" in nature and was not connected to reality and that she angered the students the most and was trying to capitalize on their pain.
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 9, 2019
This is the woman that multiple people I talked to identified as the one who angered students and caused them to storm out of the vigil because they felt like she was lying, using them, heavily politicizing the tragedy, and trying to capitalize on their pain.
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 9, 2019
It's also worth noting, neither Democrat advocated for protecting children in schools. Their solutions were vague, no specifics were given, but revolved around taking away the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans.
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 9, 2019
Powerful moment when STEM School kids spontaneously started shouting, “mental health! Mental health!“ Anguish at adults not recognizing their pain and the pain of their classmates. #stemschoolshooting pic.twitter.com/8U0lAfh64o
— Jenny Brundin (@CPRBrundin) May 9, 2019
Frustrated, crying and angry, #STEMschool shooting victims hold an impromptu vigil in the rain Wednesday after leaving a gun-control vigil they felt inappropriately politicized their trauma. (They asked that I not photograph their faces close up, and I respected their wishes.) pic.twitter.com/cksRXGtYQA
— Trevor Hughes (@TrevorHughes) May 9, 2019
What was so amazing about STEM school kids walking out, holding up lights in the drizzling rain to honor their friend who died, shouting for mental health services, sharing their grief into microphone is this: teens worlds are hyper-controlled by adults. Tonight, THEY spoke. pic.twitter.com/yMEpF4ODTI
— Jenny Brundin (@CPRBrundin) May 9, 2019
Gun control org @bradybuzz apologizes for #STEMshooting vigil. Students walked out saying their grief was being politicized. "We are deeply sorry any part of this vigil did not provide the support, caring & sense of community we sought to foster and facilitate" #9NEWS #copolitics pic.twitter.com/NHD6EaekXg
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) May 9, 2019
I think a lot of confusion comes from the fact that many attendees didn’t realize this was specially organized by gun-control advocates. Most thought it was “just” a vigil. pic.twitter.com/njPcVKcN96
— Trevor Hughes (@TrevorHughes) May 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1126344452061032449
Opinion
The death of a classmate and the trauma of being attacked on school grounds by two people with guns means one response is acceptable. They need our thoughts, prayers, and support.
They don’t need their tragedy to be politicized, so I won’t use this story as a moment to discuss gun rights. As much as I moan about some of the President’s inappropriate Tweets, his response to this tragedy was spot on. Therefore, it’s worth highlighting and accepting it as how I feel as well.
Quote
“Our Nation grieves at the unspeakable violence that took a precious young life and badly injured others in Colorado. God be with the families and thank you to the First Responders for bravely intervening. We are in close contact with Law Enforcement.” – President Trump
Our Nation grieves at the unspeakable violence that took a precious young life and badly injured others in Colorado. God be with the families and thank you to the First Responders for bravely intervening. We are in close contact with Law Enforcement.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2019
Final Thoughts
The progressive mantra at times like the STEM shooting: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” Perhaps a better way to put it is when there’s a tragedy, leftist politicians and activists love to pounce. This time, the students weren’t having it.
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