If you haven’t been following the news about the mass shooting at a mall in Texas (I’d say latest shooting — but risk not keeping up with events), there’s already a wikipedia entry for it. The entry notes it may be updated as this is so recent. The section on reactions is the usual, a bit anodyne because we’ve gotten to the point where Microsoft will probably be offering a Word template for mass casualty events.
Reactions
Governor Greg Abbott said the shooting was an "unspeakable tragedy" and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said "We are grateful for our brave first responders who were deployed to stop the shooter and investigate this hideous crime. We are thankful for their bravery and courage".[13] Senator Ted Cruz thanked "incredible law enforcement" for stopping the shooting.[14] Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Seattle Seahawks safety Steven Terrell, Washington Commanders running back Jonathan Williams, and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike—all alumni of Allen High School—released statements on Twitter.[15]
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting.[16] Flags were lowered at half-staff to honor the victims, and will be lowered until May 11.[17]
California governor Gavin Newsom urged Congress to pass gun control legislation, writing, "We have become a nation that is more focused on the right to kill than the right to live."[18]
If you haven’t seen Kellen Squire’s post about the shooting, Do not watch the video from Texas, take a moment to read his diary. He’s emphatic that, even as someone who has to deal with trauma all the time in the ER, it’s still shocking even to him.
Alternet has a number of stories on the shooting and the reactions to it. Just reading about it is traumatic enough.
'She had no face': Witness and father recalls 'carnage' from Saturday’s Texas mass shooting
A witness to the aftermath of Saturday's mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas graphically recalled what he saw in an interview with local CBS affiliate 12 News.
"The first girl I walked up to was crotched down, covering her head in the bushes. So I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side, and she had no face," Spainhouer said.
Spainhouer then came across a boy hiding under his mother who was killed while shielding him from the hail of bullets.
Spainhouer had more to say: Former Texas cop: Mass shootings 'going to keep happening' until 'automatic rifles' are 'off the streets' He puts it in plain language:
F. Steven Spainhouer, who rescued a child from the bloody aftermath of Saturday's mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, tore into arguments that massacres are the result of "mental health" or anything other than easy access to high-powered weapons during an MSNBC appearance on Sunday.
Nine people including the assailant were killed and seven others were injured in the attack, which was the 199th of its kind so far in 2023.
"I worked around people that have mental health issues. This, I don't know what the gunman's problem was. I don't know his motive, but it wasn't mental health that killed these people. It was an automatic rifle with bullets. That's what killed 'em," Spainhouer, the deputy vice chair of the Texas Democratic Veterans Caucus, told host Jonathan Capehart.
emphasis added
There’s a video of Spainhouer speaking at the linked article.
Meanwhile, What does the Republican “Party of Life” have to say?
What is the Republican response to this latest shooting? About what we’ve come to expect: word salad about God, government tyranny, mental health, the Second Amendment, freedom, thoughts and prayers, and so on, yada yada yada, blah blah blah
Greg Abbott implicates 'the government' in Saturday’s mass shooting
Speaking with anchor Shannon Bream, Abbott blamed "the government" for the massacre.
"And I'll be going up to Allen later today to begin the process, uh, providing hope and, and healing. But I gotta tell you that there are questions that are lingering that the families want answers to, and that is, why did this happen? Why did the government do this? How did this happen? And I know that those families need an answer as quickly as possible," Abbott said. "And then the last thing I'll tell you, and, and I just wanna reiterate my gratitude and the gratitude of all Texans for the swift response of that police officer — you had just a single police officer who had to confront, uh, that dangerous gunman — and did the right thing by taking swift action to eliminate the gunman. And we are great for that officer's heroism."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott goes on with more of this bafflegab, talking about more penalties, about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals while not mentioning he “has loosened firearm laws in the Lone Star State in spite of the recent spikes in violence.” Again, there’s a video of Abbott at the link if you scroll down far enough.
He also falls back on a GOP talking point, AKA blatant lying:
Abbott continued. "I think that the state in which the largest number of victims, uh, have occurred this year is in California where they have very tough gun laws where 11 people died."
That statement is demonstrably false. According to WiseVoter.org, California ranks 44th in terms of gun deaths per capita, with 8.5 per 100,000. Texas, however, sits at 26th, with 14.2 per 100,000.
[Mississippi has the highest rate of gun deaths per capita, with 28.6 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Louisiana and Wyoming. On the other hand, Hawaii has the lowest gun death rate, with only 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Massachusetts and New Jersey. — WiseVoter.org]
FWIW, Governor Abbott is okay with some shootings. It depends on the target apparently.
Of course, what’s the need for laws and restrictions on gun ownership when it’s all God’s will? Texas State Rep. Keith Self (R-Allen) who represents the community where the shooting took place goes all theological:
'Now it’s God’s fault': Texas Republican slammed for claiming 'the almighty' controls shootings.
"Now, you know, congressman, that is a common refrain after these incidents, after mass shootings, but many people argue that prayers aren't cutting it, prayers are not preventing the next mass shooting. What is your response to that criticism?" [CNN's Paula] Reid asked.
Self's answer was to double down.
"Well, those are people that don't believe in an almighty God who, who has, who is absolutely in control of our lives. I'm a Christian. I believe that he is. We have people though, with mental health that we're not taking care of since this nation made the decision that we were gonna close the mental health institutions. Many of these situations are based on that, uh, and the people that say, and, and I really, I would like to stay away from the politics today because I wanna focus on the victims. Today we should be focused on the families," Self said. "Prayer is powerful in the lives of those people that are devastated. I know people want to make this political, but prayers are important and they are powerful in the families who are devastated right now."
The reactions to this "thoughts and prayers” knee-jerk talking point was not light on ridicule and anger. Here’s a couple of samples from the article, which also has the video of Self professing his faith in the God of Human Sacrifice.
Charles Adler: "So if we are to go with what this Republican pol is saying, God wants disturbed people to have easy access to guns in the US, but not in the rest of the world. Apparently God wants Americans to be sacrificed. Who believes these pig droppings? Apparently, multiple millions do."
Chidi: "If their almighty god demands we live in a society that values guns over lives and lets people kill innocent men, women and children on a daily basis, then their god is cruel. I don't understand the type of Christianity these people are practicing."
As expected, Marjorie Taylor Greene can’t resist the temptation to spew on this latest mass shooting.
Marjorie Taylor Greene blames Texas mall shooting on 'mental illness' and 'evil forces'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Saturday blamed "mental illness, drugs, and evil forces" for a mall shooting in Allen, Texas, where deaths are confirmed.
...Brian Glenn, director of programming at the right-wing Right Side Broadcasting Network, tweeted a graphic video purporting to show the body of the deceased shooter.
"This is the piece of shit that took innocent lives today," he wrote. "Thank GOD that a brave police officer ran into the line of fire to kill this demon."
Greene, who recently said that Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, is "the biggest piece of white trash in America," retweeted the video and wrote, "This is exactly what this monster deserves."
I would consider Greene referring to the shooter as a “monster” and talking about “evil forces” as expert testimony: takes one to know one.
So what’s the reflex Republican answer to events like this mass shooting? In Texas it’s proposing laws to prevent towns or counties from passing any bills that might in anyway interfere with the Second Amendment. State Representative Carrie Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) during a last Thursday debate over a proposal to prevent the “Californication” of Texas was taken to task by Texas State Representative Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston). For a reader exercise, compare and contrast the respective bios at their legislative web pages.
'So we’re legislating nothing': Texas Democrat stumps GOP sponsor of anti-'tyrannical government' bill
Chron explained on Friday that "House Bill 3137 stops a municipality from instituting regulations surrounding the transfer, possession, wearing, carrying, ownership, storage, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms, air guns, knives, ammunition, or firearm-related gun supplies or accessories. At the same time, the bill prohibits local governments from requiring gun owners to get liability insurance for damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving firearms."
The outlet also noted that "according to a February report by Reuters, the San Jose bill passed in January 2022 with an ordinance requiring gun owners to obtain liability insurance to cover negligence or accidents from using firearms. The San Jose bill also requires gun owners to pay a yearly fee to gun violence prevention organizations the city manager picks. Due to pending litigation, the bill hasn't been enforced in the city yet."
Johnson subjected Isaac to a series of questions about what her bill would do. He walked her step by step through what she was actually trying to do with this bill.
"What does your bill specifically do?" Johnson asked Isaac.
"It will not allow municipalities to require insurance on firearms," Isaac replied.
"So otherwise, other words, does your bill prohibit mayors, city councils, and county commissioners from legally governing themselves when it comes to guns?" Johnson wondered.
"They do not have this right," Isaac declared.
"They don't have the right to do what?" Johnson followed up.
"To infringe upon our second amendment," Isaac said.
"Who — you mean again, cities, mayors," Johnson clarified.
"Correct," Isaac confirmed.
"Do mayors, city councils, and county commissioners have a right to pass laws that protect the citizens of their community?" Johnson posited.
"As long as it doesn't infringe on our constitutional rights," Isaac responded as her comrades began surrounding her.
"The constitutional right to do what?" Johnson pressed.
"To protect ourselves with our Second Amendment," Isaac proclaimed.
"From what?" Johnson continued.
"From a tyrannical government," Isaac reiterated.
Isaac has a deer-in-the-headlights look at this point. Her Republican colleagues have come down to cluster around her and feed her responses to Johnson’s questions. After several more exchanges it came down to this:
"Is there a city in Texas?" Johnson asked more forcefully. [that has regulations like San Jose.]
At this point, Isaac was being fed answers.
"Answer every question. Keep saying what you want us say," Isaac was told.
"Um, no, there is not, and that's the, and this still will prevent that from happening here in Texas," Isaac insisted.
"So then that means we're legislating nothing?" Johnson pointed out.
"We're preventing it from happening here in Texas," Isaac shot back.
"So it hasn't happened yet," Johnson said.
"That's correct," Isaac agreed.
"So, again, we're legislating nothing," Johnson added.
"Don't California my Texas," Isaac snapped.
"Are we legislating nothing?" Johnson asked one last time, albeit in vain. "So we're legislating nothing."
emphasis added
READ THE WHOLE THING: it’s part and parcel of the GOP effort to make sure the voters of the blue communities of the state of Texas are rendered powerless. (Also see what’s happening to the Capital of the State of Mississippi.)
There’s a video of the exchange between Johnson and Isaac, all except the part in Italics in the block quote above.
I suspect it will be seen differently depending on the inclinations of the viewer, a la Rashomon. From one viewpoint, it could be taken as an uppity black man from a crime-ridden democratic hellhole city harassing a white woman just trying to defend the ‘real’ Texas. Her colleagues are rushing to her rescue from this abuse.
Or, you could see it as a black man calmly and with dignity peeling back the layers of hypocrisy and privilege to reveal an anti-democratic exercise of actual government tyranny by Republicans, through a woman who is little more than a puppet backed up by a white mob.
YMMV.
Here’s what the tweeted video of the exchange looks like.
If you are so inclined, send Alternet some love for all this. Like other information sources trying to fight the good fight, they can use the cash.
UPDATE: There are a number of posts about the Allen, TX shooting. Here are some links.