White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has one job, show up prepared to answer tough questions. It’s not like there is no way of predicting what reporters are going to ask but just like her boss, Jean-Pierre seems defective.
Right now Democrats led by Biden are pushing for more gun control but when a reporter asked Jean-Pierre if those measures would have prevented the carnage that happened at the Uvalde elementary school, she choked:
“Based on what you know about the situation in both Uvalde and Buffalo, is there anything that the Senate negotiators are considering now that would’ve stopped those two shootings?” a reporter asked.
“I’m no expert here, but one thing that I do know, that we all know, is that both the shooters were 18. And one of the things that’s on the table is raising the age limit,” Jean-Pierre said.
“Are you sure that’s on the table? Raising the age limit from 18 to 21 to buy AR-15s? Because John Cornyn has said that’s not on the table,” the reporter interjected.
The reporter clarified that what they wanted to hear about was new plans that the lawmakers are considering and how they could (or could not) work:
” I don’t — I’m just saying that’s been one of the conversations that’s been out there. I do not know. Again, we’re not negotiating from here. I’m just trying to make a point. This is something that the President supports — raising the age from 18 to 21. Because one of the things that we do know is both of the shooters were 18 years old. The one in Uvalde, in particular, when he was 17, he asked his sister to buy him a gun. She said, “No.” And as soon as he turned 18, he went and bought — he bought — he bought a gun.
And so, that is something that we have heard about, that’s out there, and that is something the President talked about on Thursday.”
What happened was horrific but is disarming lawful Americans really the answer? I think most would agree that decision puts Americans in the position where only criminals have guns. It seems like if politicians really cared they would help fortify schools and support law enforcement. Offer more training and better defense gear.
But what do I know?