JD Vance slammed for calling school shootings a "fact of life" after Georgia tragedy

Phoenix, Arizona - Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance is facing immense backlash after he gave questionable remarks regarding a school shooting that took place in Georgia earlier this week.

Vice presidential nominee JD Vance is facing backlash after he described a recent school shooting as a "fact of life" during a campaign rally on Thursday.
Vice presidential nominee JD Vance is facing backlash after he described a recent school shooting as a "fact of life" during a campaign rally on Thursday.  © JEFF SWENSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

During a campaign rally on Thursday night, the Ohio senator was asked about the policies he supports that could end school shootings.

"I don't like to admit this – I don't like that this is a fact of life," Vance explained. "But if you are a psycho, and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets.

"We have got to bolster security at our schools," he continued, "so that if a psycho wants to walk through the front door and kill a bunch of children, they're not able to."

JD Vance hits positive favorability for the first time since becoming VP nominee
Politicians JD Vance hits positive favorability for the first time since becoming VP nominee

While the vice presidential candidate admitted that he'd rather not implement the extra security in schools, he argued it "is increasingly the reality that we live in."

Vance's remarks came after a 14-year-old fatally shot two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday.

He went on to urge the crowd to provide "prayer" and "sympathies" for the community as they continue to recover from this "awful tragedy."

Kamala Harris criticizes JD Vance's comments on gun violence

Presidential candidate Kamala Harris (l.) and her running mate Tim Walz (r.) during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 20, 2024.
Presidential candidate Kamala Harris (l.) and her running mate Tim Walz (r.) during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 20, 2024.  © Anna Moneymaker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

During his remarks, Vance took aim at Democrat Kamala Harris, claiming that she wants to "take law-abiding American citizens' guns away from them" and argued that her support for more strict gun laws won't "solve this problem."

Late Thursday night, Harris shared a clip of Vance's comments on social media with a brief response.

"School shootings are not just a fact of life," Harris wrote. "It doesn't have to be this way. We can take action to protect our children – and we will."

Trump accused of blocking FBI's thorough review of Brett Kavanaugh in bombshell report
Donald Trump Trump accused of blocking FBI's thorough review of Brett Kavanaugh in bombshell report

Vance clapped back, accusing her of wanting to "take security out of our schools instead of protecting our children," and lying about what he said.

"More desperation from the biggest fraud in American politics," he added.

Harris is head of the White House's Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and while she does support stronger gun laws and banning the sale of some assault rifles, she has advocated for stronger security in schools.

Cover photo: JEFF SWENSEN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

More on Politicians: