The horrific mass murder at a Nashville elementary school on Monday at the hands of a transgender shooter has created some tense moments in response. Some people blame the mental illness of the shooter who shot and killed three innocent 9-year-olds and two school employees. Others blame the weapons she used. Democrats and the president blame Republicans.

As I began to write this post, I listened to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre (KJP) do as she has done since Monday – blame Republicans for the deaths on Monday. She was so busy blaming Republicans for some imaginary lack of action (gun grabbing) that she barely got around to offering condolences to families of service members stationed at Fort Campbell who lost their lives in a helicopter accident. She tucked that in toward the end of her opening remarks during the daily briefing. Politics first with this administration.

On Wednesday progressive Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman from New York went viral on social media for his unhinged rant in the halls of Congress. Standing in a doorway as his colleagues left a hearing, he was screaming about Republicans being “cowards” for not doing anything about gun violence. Bowman positioned himself in front of reporters who were happy to indulge his temper tantrum. He kept repeating himself as both Republicans and Democrats walked past him. At one point, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the former right-hand man for former Speaker Pelosi, stopped and put his hand on Bowman’s shoulder as to calm him and interrupt his rant. The gesture didn’t faze Bowman. He was far too worked up to settle down.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky stopped and tried to engage Bowman. He countered Bowman’s rant with some facts. Bowman started yelling about being a teacher and the years he spent in school. Massie made the point that schools that allow teachers and staff to carry weapons have never had a shooting, not even a misfire of a weapon. Only teachers and staff who are trained and want to carry protection participate at those schools. Bowman responded with the typical progressive response – more guns means more violence. Not in this case.

Sometimes I hear: “Teachers and administrators don’t want to carry, and they aren’t qualified.” The reality is it only takes a few individuals like this person (who just texted me) to keep our kids safe, primarily as a deterrent to the psychopaths who choose unprotected targets. pic.twitter.com/yMnyW59Cue

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 30, 2023

Massie walked over to the reporters to tell them what he was trying to tell Bowman. Bowman continued to shout over him. He followed Massie over to the reporters to keep himself on camera. At one point, Bowman was doing some man-handling of Massie and getting in his face. It was punk behavior unbecoming of an elected official, even a rookie representative from New York.

Bowman stomped off when Massie didn’t back down and was getting attention from the reporters, too. He posted a video on Twitter.

Republicans won't do SHIT when it comes to gun violence, but try to tell me to calm down.

NO.

We can't calm down. People are dying everyday while we wait. pic.twitter.com/38mYYW9cgs

— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) March 29, 2023

KJP reminded reporters that Biden has signed two dozen executive orders on guns. Restricting Second Amendment rights via executive order hasn’t stopped mass shootings. The laws already on the books have to be enforced. Mental health services need to be made available for troubled people, like the transgender shooter who murdered five people on Monday. Another law on the books isn’t going to alter human behavior if a mentally ill person is determined to do something. The Democrats’ fever dreams of gun confiscation aren’t going to come true.

Bowman is a back-bencher who uses temper tantrums and ugly comments to garner attention in the media. He isn’t interested in rational discussion. He’s all about the drama.

Massie made a good argument for school protection by armed personnel. He pointed out that congressmen are protected by armed security guards. Why shouldn’t schoolchildren have the same protection?