Walz Shared A Story During The VP Debate That Earned Even Vance’s Sympathy

Vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance shared a touching moment onstage during Tuesday night’s debate when Walz revealed his son had been present during a shooting.

“I got a 17-year-old, and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball,” Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, said. “Those things don’t leave you.”

Vance, an Ohio senator, shook his head as Walz spoke, saying, “awful.”

Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, shared the story while calling for stronger gun control policies, including “red flag” laws and enhanced background checks before firearm purchases ― two ideas supported by the vast majority of Americans, and which Harris supports.

“I 100% believe that Sen. Vance hates it when these kids — it’s abhorrent, and it breaks your heart. I agree with that, but that’s not far enough when we know there are things that work,” Walz said.

When the moderators turned the mic over to Vance, he offered his sympathies to Walz and his son.

“Tim, first of all, I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting. I’m sorry about that,” he said, as Walz thanked him. “Christ have mercy. It is awful.”

Vance then went on to blame school shootings on “mental health substance abuse” and “way higher rates of depression, way higher rates of anxiety.” He then suggested schools beef up security, including by making it harder to break down doors.

“We have to make the doors lock better,” Vance said.

While Vance’s running mate, Donald Trump, once supported universal background checks and red flag laws, the Trump campaign has since distanced itself rom those policies. Trump has also proposed giving a tax credit to teachers who want to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds.

Vance has also previously criticized background checks as a solution.