GOP Senator Tom Cotton has denounced Vice President Kamala Harris' past rhetoric on "demilitarizing" schools, highlighting her support for removing police officers from campuses.
GOP Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has ignited controversy by invoking Kamala Harris' previous comments on school shootings during a tense interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
Appearing on "State of the Union," Cotton addressed last week's tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where two teachers and two students were killed. He refuted the Associated Press headline that implied JD Vance had dismissed school shootings as a "fact of life," emphasizing that Vance had called for increased school security.
Cotton Blasts Harris Over School Shootings, Citing Past Defund the Police Comments
"Do you accept that school shootings like this are just a way of life now?" Bash asked Cotton.
"Absolutely not, and JD Vance doesn't either," Cotton responded, criticizing the AP for distorting Vance's quote.
Cotton Blasts Harris Over School Shootings, Citing Past Defund the Police Comments
Cotton then praised the school officers who swiftly apprehended the 14-year-old shooter. However, he juxtaposed this with Harris' unearthed comments from 2019, in which she expressed support for removing police officers from schools as a means of "demilitarizing" campuses.
"Here's what we also know about that shooting, even if we're still gathering all the facts. It wasn't as bad as it might have been because there was a police officer on school premises that was able to neutralize the shooter. Kamala Harris wants to take police officers out of schools. She's said it in the past," Cotton stated.
Cotton Blasts Harris Over School Shootings, Citing Past Defund the Police Comments
Families of school-shooting victims condemned Harris' 2019 remarks, with Ryan Petty and Andrew Pollack, who lost their daughters in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, expressing outrage.
Vice President Harris, for her part, called for action against gun violence in the aftermath of the Apalachee High School shooting, but it remains unclear whether she still endorses the removal of school resource officers. Her campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
Cotton Blasts Harris Over School Shootings, Citing Past Defund the Police Comments
Cotton's remarks have sparked a heated debate about school safety and the role of law enforcement in preventing school shootings. Critics argue that Harris' past comments are out of step with current realities and would make schools less safe. Supporters of Harris contend that the presence of police officers in schools may contribute to a sense of fear and alienation among students, particularly those from minority backgrounds.
Amidst the ongoing national conversation about school safety and gun control, Cotton's invocation of Harris' past comments has further polarized the debate. Moving forward, it is crucial to engage in a thoughtful and evidence-based discussion about the best ways to protect our children and ensure their safety in educational environments.
