Reacting to Virginia Shooting, CNN Condemns America and Racist Cops

CNN’s Jim Acosta reacted to the breaking news of a shooting that resulted in no deaths or injuries at Tysons Corner Mall in Virginia on Saturday by suggesting a lack of gun control contributed to the situation. Meanwhile, national security analyst Juliette Kayyem declared that is hard for teenagers to flea such situations because of alleged racism in the police and attacked America’s “culture.”

The shooting was the result of an argument, but Acosta led Kayyem with more of a declaration about than a question about those who got out of harm’s way, “If you’re the parent of a teenager at home, I—I– am one myself. Teenagers around the world don’t do this on a regular basis. Basically only American teenagers do this.”

The questionable assertion that American teens are uniquely exposed to violence aside, Kayyem agreed and claimed she has had talks with her children about what to do in such circumstances, “if there’s an incident like this that—that–, you know, the most heroic move they can make is run, right? That your judgment has to be to—to– run.”  

However, that can be “very hard. And when you think of other issues like racial issues and others that many teenage—teenagers– face, African-American boys and whatever else, it is not — it is a — with police.”

As if that inappropriate retort wasn’t enough, Kayyem kept going, “it is a tense time and if anything, if there’s any benefit to being on right now, besides the fact we have—we had– a shooting incident with no deaths, is to remind people that it’s the shooting incident that is—that is– the bad news, right? And—and– the fact that there were no deaths is a pretty low floor and we should remind ourselves of that in a culture that is seeing these mass shootings once a day.”

It’s possible for something to be terrible, and still fit in a national narrative. But, Acosta has a narrative, which he pushed while concluding the segment, “it’s just a reminder that the specter of mass gun violence hangs over every community in the United States of America, it’s just the way of life in this country right now. It’s become an accepted way of life for—for– many Americans and we should note this is also occurring as gun legislation is—is– once again predictably stalling in the Senate.”

Even though the Virginia shootings were horrific, Acosta’s media and Acosta keep changing what constitutes a mass shooting in an effort to force gun control. This situation wouldn’t have been qualified even if they used their pro-gun control sources. 

This segment was sponsored and produced by Chase.

The transcript of the show, June 18, is available here:

CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta

6/18/2022

3:47 AM ET

JIM ACOSTA: If you’re the parent of a teenager at home, I—I– am one myself. Teenagers around the world don’t do this on a regular basis. Basically only American teenagers do this. 

JULIETTE KAYYEM (That’s correct, Jim): I too have teenage boys. I have teenage boys who, you know, I love them to death but sometimes their judgment isn’t the best and, you know, I do have to talk to them seriously and then—and these are not — my — you know, these are kids that tend not to get into trouble but—but– if there’s an incident like this that—that–, you know, the most heroic move they can make is run, right?

That your judgment has to be to—to– run. That’s hard. And when you think of other issues like racial issues and others that many teenage—teenagers– face, African-American boys and whatever else, it is not — it is a — with police.

It is not a –- it is a tense time and if anything, if there’s any benefit to being on right now, besides the fact we have—we had– a shooting incident with no deaths, is to remind people that it’s the shooting incident that is—that is– the bad news, right? And—and– the fact that there were no deaths is a pretty low floor and we should remind ourselves of that in a culture that is seeing these mass shootings once a day. 

ACOSTA: But, it’s just a reminder that the specter of mass gun violence hangs over every community in the United States of America, it’s just the way of life in this country right now. It’s become an accepted way of life for—for– many Americans and we should note this is also occurring as gun legislation is—is– once again predictably stalling in the Senate. Juliette Kayyem, thank you very much we appreciate your time.