Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger is once again slamming his political party, accusing GOP leaders and conservative figures of selective outrage.
In a pointed post on X, Kinzinger contrasted the emotional outpouring on the right following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk with what he described as muted responses to the ongoing epidemic of school shootings in the United States.
Kinzinger’s post
As an elementary school teacher I cannot agree with this more. My little first graders could have been Sandy Hook. They could have been Uvalde.
— Puss-N-Bonks #NAFO #MUGA Діана (@katze_chick) September 19, 2025
Yet MAGA clung to their 2nd amendment like their lives depended on it.
And now they are saying the left is cause?
The ultimate… pic.twitter.com/bgCY4jNZE4
“I have been struck with something,” Kinzinger wrote in the September 18, 2025, post. “We all mourn the death of Charlie Kirk. It absolutely was pure evil. But there have been an immense amount of school shootings… against children… and the GOP doesn’t show 1/456th of the remorse they demand America shows for Charlie.”
Kinzinger’s post gained traction, drawing agreement from both Democrats and disillusioned Republicans. One widely shared reply came from an elementary school teacher, who wrote:
“As an elementary school teacher I cannot agree with this more. My little first graders could have been Sandy Hook. They could have been Uvalde. Yet MAGA clung to their 2nd amendment like their lives depended on it. And now they are saying the left is cause? The ultimate gaslighting and it makes me sick to my stomach.”
The response underscores how educators, parents, and survivors continue to feel the devastating toll of gun violence. This impact persists long after headlines fade. For many, the contrast between the GOP’s tearful reaction to Kirk’s killing and its opposition to even modest gun reforms is striking. It serves as a painful reminder of political priorities.
The controversy surrounding Kirk’s death
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in conservative politics, was killed in September 2025 in an incident that remains under investigation. While authorities have not released a full accounting of what happened, the case has become highly politicized. MAGA leaders and right-wing commentators have pointed fingers at the left, with some framing the tragedy as a politically motivated act of violence.
Some critics have rejected that framing, arguing that such accusations amount to opportunistic blame-shifting. Instead, they say the focus should be on addressing the root causes of violence, including gun access and extremist rhetoric. Kinzinger’s comments fit squarely into that critique, warning that the GOP’s reaction is less about preventing future tragedies and more about weaponizing one.
