Season 2, Episode 9 of a View from the Left Side focuses on our country's epidemic of gun violence.
My opening commentary, recorded on June 1, 2022, refers to the mass shootings at a Buffalo, New York grocery store and at the Uvalde, Texas elementary school. There have been more since then, most notably the Highland Park. Illinois Fourth of July Parade mass shooting. There have been more than 300 mass shootings in the US in 2022, according to the Washington Post. Mass shootings are when four or more people -- besides the shooter -- are killed or injured in the same incident. Mass shootings are averaging one per day in 2022, and there have been no weeks in 2022 without a mass shooting, according to the Post. This is not a well-regulated militia. This is a country more privately owned weapons than people.
Following my commentary outlining common sense gun violence prevention legislation proposed by Arizona Democrats is the March for Our Lives Press Conference in the Rose Garden at the Arizona Capitol.
On June 1, 2022, March for Our Lives Phoenix hosted a press conference calling for Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Legislature to take action on common sense gun violence prevention legislation.
Jacob Martinez, March for Our Lives Phoenix organizer, gave opening remarks and introduced Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman, Democratic House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, and Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios.
Hoffman talked about her School Safety Task Force, which she funded with $21 million in COVID funds; the Legislature has still not acted on this March for Our Lives request from 2019.
Bolding discussed Red Flag laws and other popular Democratic proposals to stop senseless gun violence. Unfortunately, the Legislative "majority", which represents minority of Arizona voters, is loyal to the gun lobby and their campaign donations.
Podcast Time Stamps
Season 2, Episode 9 Introduction | 0:50
Rep. PPH Commentary on Gun Violence in the US | 2:19
March for Our Lives Press Conterence at the Capitol | 6:04
Jacob Martinez, March for Our Lives, Phoenix | 6:20
Kathy Hoffman, Superintendent of Public Instruction | 9:32
Unnecessarily noisy delivery guys trying to disrupt press conference | 12:18
How many times does the same delivery guy have to rev his engine in the parking lot? | 13:31
Rep. Reginold Bolding, House Democratic Minority Leader | 14:51
Bolding responds to reporter question about Legislative inaction on gun violence prevention | 19:00
Bolding responds to reporter question about forcing a vote on gun reform in the House | 20:23
Senator Rebecca Rios, Senate Democratic Minority Leader, responds to reporter question | 21:01
Here are the videos.
Podcast: As Gun Violence Rocks US, March for Our Lives Calls for Action (video)