To Politicize a Tragedy

What happened in Nashville can't be "politicized" because it is already political.

In the immediate wake of Monday’s Covenant School shooting here in Nashville, a photo started circulating online of Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles’ family Christmas card. Ogles, his wife and his three kids are smiling in front of the tree, brandishing rifles — making merry with that “own the libs!” energy that has become as core to Republicans’ holiday celebration as candy canes and Bing Crosby. 

Shannon Watts @shannonrwatts

THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville. #tnleg

Ogles represents the district where the same weapon he and his family posed with for their little stunt was used to kill three kids and three adults at school. The adults’ names were Cynthia Peak, Mike Hill and Katherine Coonce. They were all in their early 60s. The kids’ names were William Kinney, Hallie Scruggs and Evelyn Diekhaus. They were each nine years old.

Nobody can “politicize” the tragedy in Nashville. Like all mass shootings in America, it emerged fully politicized, enabled and abetted by our politicians in power. When we fail to respond politically, we only show how little we care.

Ogles’ Christmas card was seized upon as the bitter and ugly irony that it is, emblematic of our lawmakers’ unhinged love of guns. Guns are a powerful tool in the culture war. They are also the leading cause of death among American children and teenagers. And it is up to politicians like Ogles to utilize them as the former and studiously ignore the latter. No mean feat, but it’s electoral gold if you can pull it off.

This is why the liberal obsession with gun lobby donations is misplaced.