These past few weeks have been filled with one heartbreaking tragedy after another. At the center of the violence is several school shootings, which have drawn mass media attention.

Several politicians, particularly presidential hopefuls, have made statements in response to the events. When asked what he’d do if a gunman put a gun to his head and asked about his religion, Dr. Ben Carson told Fox & Friends last Tuesday in reference to the horrific mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, “I would not just stand there and let him shoot me.”

Carson’s statement is insensitive at a time when one of the most controversial topics being discussed is gun control.

Whatever the future may hold for gun rights and the agendas of presidential candidates, right now, the priority of gun-related discussions should be remaining respectful toward victims and their families. This is not the time to be making light-hearted comments about what the victims should have done to avoid being injured.

Historically, conservatives have been strongly in favor of gun rights, while liberals generally believe that gun ownership needs to be restricted, or in some cases banned. Regardless of political stance, it would be difficult to defend the view that there does not need to be any type of gun law reform after these past few weeks.

The severity of gun-related violence in the United States can be illustrated by the fact that since 2013, there have been 149 school shootings in the U.S. as of Oct. 9, according to Everytown For Gun Safety.

Even if Dr. Carson was not intentionally trying to second-guess the actions of defense taken by the shooting victims, it does not make his comments any less inappropriate.

In an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, Carson was given a chance to apologize for his insensitivity, and said, “From the indications that I got, they did not rush the shooter…” Not only was this comment unnecessary, but it is entirely inaccurate as well.

The name Chris Mintz might right a bell for many people. That is because he is the heroic army veteran who was shot several times while attempting to stop the Oregon shooter.

Mintz absolutely did not “just stand there.” He risked his life to rush the shooter, and the fact that his bravery did not draw the attention of Dr. Carson, particularly as a presidential hopeful, is despicable.

It is one thing to talk about what one should have done in such a catastrophic event, but it is entirely different to actually act in a dangerous situation. Most people would like to believe that they would be like Mintz and have the courage to charge the shooter and save the day. But, in reality, most people might not be able to summon the strength to perform such an act.

That does not mean that those innocent victims did anything wrong. It just means that they were terrified, just like any normal person would be if that were in that situation.

These recent incidents of gun violence will force possible presidential candidates to devise plans on how to make American citizens feel safe and secure in their homes, schools and workplaces. But, in doing so, the politicians must remain respectful.

This is a time for mourning the victims and Dr. Carson should acknowledge his mistake, take a step back and focus on extending his sympathy to those affected, supporting the survivors and thanking the heroes.

Victoria Razzi is a sophomore advertising major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at vcrazzi@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @vrazzi.

Published on October 12, 2015 at 12:02 am