Beauchamp: In the Wake of Nashville Shooting, the Media Doesn’t Shy Away From Its Anti-Christian Narrative

As the nation comes together to mourn the lives lost in the Nashville Christian School shooting on Monday, there has been a noticeable effort by many outlets in the mainstream media to try and shove the blame for this tragedy on Republicans, Christians, and the Christian faith.

Take for example an article published by The Daily Mail on Tuesday entitled, ‘EXCLUSIVE: Nashville Mass School Shooter was Rejected by Her Christian Parents.’ In this article, The Daily Mail attempts to explain how the shooter’s parents did not accept that she was transgender and gay, and that was a potential reason for the massacre Monday.

EXCLUSIVE: Nashville mass school shooter was rejected by her Christian parents https://t.co/hQMxipernF pic.twitter.com/xzmpcvo3r9

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) March 28, 2023

“Posing sweetly with a bow in her hair, [The Shooter] was the picture of innocence in her eight-year-old yearbook photo from The Covenant School,” An excerpt from the article explains, “Twenty years later, after being rejected by her Christian family when she came out to them as gay, [The Shooter] had turned into a killer.”

The implication here is quite obvious. If the shooter’s family had only accepted who she chose to be, then it is possible the shooting wouldn’t have happened.

As another example, Reuters published an article Tuesday entitled, ‘Former Christian School Student Kills 3 Children, 3 Staff in Nashville Shooting.’ Toward the end of the article, there is a recap of legislation that was passed in the Tennessee legislature (A Republican-led legislature) that barred ‘gender-affirming’ medical care for minors and put restrictions on drag shows within the state.

Former Christian school student kills 3 children, 3 staff in Nashville shooting https://t.co/rQBgths2TI pic.twitter.com/6egl9SHSZM

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 28, 2023

“The shooting came weeks after Tennessee’s legislature thrust the state to the forefront of a political furor over LGBTQ rights by voting to ban gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender children and to place new restrictions on drag performances,” the article explains.

NBC News also published an article Tuesday entitled, ‘Fear Pervades Tennessee’s Trans Community Amid Focus On Nashville Shooter’s Gender Identity.’ As the title suggests, this article details how members of the transgender community are fearful of the potential backlash from Republicans and conservatives in the wake of the shooting.

Fear pervades Tennessee's trans community amid focus on Nashville shooter's gender identity: “We were already fearing for our lives. Now, it’s even worse.” https://t.co/dftpoDE5C2

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 28, 2023

“We are terrified for the LGBTQ community here,” Kim Spoon, a trans activist based in Knoxville, Tennessee, said. “More blood’s going to be shed, and it’s not going to be shed in a school.”

Between these two articles, the implication is rather stark; the victims of this tragedy are not the actual victims.

WATCH: JOSH HAWLEY CALLS FOR FEDERAL ACTION IN RESPONSE TO NASHVILLE SHOOTING THAT TARGETED CHRISTIANS

Additionally, as previously reported by the DC Enquirer, NBC reporter Benjamin Ryan attempted to link the shooting to prominent Conservative news outlet The Daily Wire – which operates out of Nashville.

“Nashville is home to the Daily Wire, a hub of anti-trans activity by @MattWalshBlog, @BenShapiro and @MichaelJKnowles.” Ryan would state in a now-deleted tweet.

Deleted, but The List comes for all, @benryanwriter.

✍️✍️✍️ pic.twitter.com/AX9ytE0b1u

— The List (@ListComesForAll) March 27, 2023

In a moment that should be unifying for all Americans, where we sit down, hold our loved ones a little tighter, and cover a community in prayer, we see a legacy media apparatus not trying to unite but divide. A legacy media apparatus trying to spread the net of blame instead of building a bridge of unity. A legacy media apparatus spreading fear instead of offering hope in a time where we desperately need it.

If we cannot sit with people in the pain and trauma they are experiencing simply because we disagree with their politics or values, we are missing such a crucial and integral part of what makes us American. As the apostle Paul told the church in Rome, we must, “Weep with those who weep.”

Follow Josh Beauchamp on Twitter here