President Trump addresses the nation on yesterday's school shooting in Parkland, Florida. New York Times op-ed columnist David Leonhardt previews the speech by discussing the shooting and gun violence here in the United States. And WNYC's Amira Nader, who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, talks about the school and reacts to the news from her hometown. Plus: The Guardian reporter Lois Beckett, who covers guns and gun violence, criminal justice and the far right, reports on the shooting and also previews -- and reacts to -- the president's speech.
"As on immigration, look at what he's doing. That's more important than what he's saying," says @DLeonhardt, regarding the president and gun violence.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 15, 2018
Sobering reminder from @DLeonhardt: No other country has this problem. The only logical explanation...is that it is our prevalence of guns and our lax gun laws that allow these mass shootings, that happen in no other rich country in the world.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 15, 2018
The school shootings clearly strike us all in an emotional way...but it's important to remember schools are actually the safest place for children, says @GuardianUS reporter @loisbeckett.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 15, 2018
@realDonaldTrump did not mention guns in his speech. He did mention mental health, culture, importance of family, faith. Now: @GuardianUS reporter @loisbeckett is back to react to his speech.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 15, 2018
@loisbeckett clarifies a few things: What we know from research is that even if you could miraculously cure *all* mental illness, the amount of violence wouldn't go down all that much. People dealing with mental health are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) February 15, 2018