Walz Shared A Story During The VP Debate That Earned Even Vances Sympathy

Vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance shared a touching moment onstage during Tuesday nights 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 dont 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 its abhorrent, and it breaks your heart. I agree with that, but thats not far enough when we know there are things that work, Walz said.

Tim Walz says his teenaged son Gus witnessed a shooting at a community center while playing volleyball: \"Those things don't leave you.\"

\"I didn't know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting,\" JD Vance says in response. \"I'm sorry about that and I hope he's doing okay. Christ pic.twitter.com/0avBbLdKyM

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Tim Walz says his teenaged son Gus witnessed a shooting at a community center while playing volleyball: "Those things don't leave you."

"I didn't know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting," JD Vance says in response. "I'm sorry about that and I hope he's doing okay. Christ pic.twitter.com/0avBbLdKyM
CBS News (@CBSNews) October 2, 2024

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

Tim, first of all, I didnt know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting. Im 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.

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

While Vances 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.