Trump’s ‘Action’ on School Mass Shooting: Ordering Flags Lowered
In the middle of Wednesday’s school mass shooting that left 17 people dead and well over a dozen people injured, President Trump tweeted out his “prayers and condolences.” Thursday morning he tweeted out what some worry is a call for a “witch hunt” to warn authorities of those who display “erratic behavior.” None of his actions will do anything to reduce gun violence or protect schoolchildren.
Now the president has taken another step. He has just issued a proclamation “HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA.” Â
His proclamation on the tragedy doesn’t mention it was a mass shooting. It doesn’t mention guns. It doesn’t mention how many people died. It doesn’t mention they were gunned down. It just says there was a “terrible act of violence.”
“Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,” the proclamation begins.
“As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated on February 14, 2018, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, February 19, 2018.”
The president doesn’t even denounce gun violence. He certainly does not promise to strengthen gun laws.
Lowering the flags is literally the least he could do.