Walz reacts to Vance's comments on school shootings: It's 'not a fact of life'
At an LGBTQ+ advocacy dinner in Washington on Saturday, Walz highlighted a significant issue by stating, “It’s a fact of life some people are gay. But you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools.”
TroibNews 
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz delivered a strong rebuke to Senator JD Vance's remarks on the recent school shooting in Georgia. He spoke passionately at an event for an LGBTQ+ advocacy group on Saturday evening, asserting that school shootings should not be normalized.
Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside Democrats including Walz, criticized Vance after he stated last Thursday, "I don’t like that this is a fact of life." This came in response to a school shooting where a 14-year-old boy used a semiautomatic assault-style rifle, resulting in the deaths of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, near Atlanta. The tragedy also left at least nine others injured.
Speaking at a campaign function in Phoenix, Vance commented, “I don’t like this. I don’t like to admit this. I don’t like that this is a fact of life. But if you’re, if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets, and we have got to bolster security at our schools.”
Walz addressed these comments head-on during his speech at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Washington. "It’s a fact of life some people are gay. But you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools," Walz stated.
He further criticized the prevailing gun culture and policy prioritization, mentioning, “That’s not a fact of life. Folks are banning books, but they’re okay with weapons of war being in our schools.”
Despite Republicans arguing that Vance acknowledged the need for enhanced school security, Democrats continued to voice their dismay. In response to Vance's statements, a spokesperson for Vice President Harris, Ammar Moussa, said, “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz know we can take action to keep our children safe and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Donald Trump and JD Vance will always choose the NRA and gun lobby over our children. That is the choice in this election.”
In his speech, Walz also alerted the audience about the dangers of a potential return of former President Donald Trump to the White House, and the implications of the right-wing Project 2025 agenda which could negatively impact the LGBTQ+ community and restrict abortion rights. "This time, they are not playing, they are coming to do the things they say they wanted to do,” he emphasized.
Walz also criticized Republicans for their stance on family values, referencing Vance's absence during the Senate vote on the Child Tax Credit and Trump’s unclear position on tackling childcare costs.
The event, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, drew a large crowd of Democratic donors and featured notable attendees including Rachel Levine, a prominent transgender official, lending their support as Walz cast Trump as a threat to LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access in America.
Walz also shared a personal anecdote from his days as a high school teacher when he helped establish the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, providing a further testament to his longstanding commitment to inclusivity. He concluded his speech with a firm reiteration of his opposition to Vance, particularly criticizing Vance's comments on personal issues. "Quit talking about women’s childbearing issues. Quit talking about it," Walz declared.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside Democrats including Walz, criticized Vance after he stated last Thursday, "I don’t like that this is a fact of life." This came in response to a school shooting where a 14-year-old boy used a semiautomatic assault-style rifle, resulting in the deaths of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, near Atlanta. The tragedy also left at least nine others injured.
Speaking at a campaign function in Phoenix, Vance commented, “I don’t like this. I don’t like to admit this. I don’t like that this is a fact of life. But if you’re, if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets, and we have got to bolster security at our schools.”
Walz addressed these comments head-on during his speech at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Washington. "It’s a fact of life some people are gay. But you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools," Walz stated.
He further criticized the prevailing gun culture and policy prioritization, mentioning, “That’s not a fact of life. Folks are banning books, but they’re okay with weapons of war being in our schools.”
Despite Republicans arguing that Vance acknowledged the need for enhanced school security, Democrats continued to voice their dismay. In response to Vance's statements, a spokesperson for Vice President Harris, Ammar Moussa, said, “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz know we can take action to keep our children safe and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Donald Trump and JD Vance will always choose the NRA and gun lobby over our children. That is the choice in this election.”
In his speech, Walz also alerted the audience about the dangers of a potential return of former President Donald Trump to the White House, and the implications of the right-wing Project 2025 agenda which could negatively impact the LGBTQ+ community and restrict abortion rights. "This time, they are not playing, they are coming to do the things they say they wanted to do,” he emphasized.
Walz also criticized Republicans for their stance on family values, referencing Vance's absence during the Senate vote on the Child Tax Credit and Trump’s unclear position on tackling childcare costs.
The event, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, drew a large crowd of Democratic donors and featured notable attendees including Rachel Levine, a prominent transgender official, lending their support as Walz cast Trump as a threat to LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access in America.
Walz also shared a personal anecdote from his days as a high school teacher when he helped establish the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, providing a further testament to his longstanding commitment to inclusivity. He concluded his speech with a firm reiteration of his opposition to Vance, particularly criticizing Vance's comments on personal issues. "Quit talking about women’s childbearing issues. Quit talking about it," Walz declared.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
