CNN's Scott Jennings Brawls With Colleagues Over Cause of Minnesota School Shooting: The Mental Illness Was Encouraged'

"After psychologist Jeff Gardere asked, How are we going to come together as a society, as politicians, bipartisan action to be able to protect children? How long will we allow them to be collateral damage due to our ideological difference? host Abby Phillip posed the question to Jennings. That's a good question, Scott. What happens after? I mean, what should happen now to stop this from your perspective as a Republican? she inquired."

"Sure, well I think the first question you have to ask is why did it happen? I don't think it happened because of guns. I think it happen because somebody who was clearly suffering from severe mental illness- he began before being interrupted by Phillip. Had access to weapons that would allow them to carry out a terrible shooting, she offered. Well, and the mental illness was encouraged, argued Jennings about the alleged perpetrator, 23-year-old Robin Westman, who was transgender."

Panelists debated causes of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic School shooting, with Republicans emphasizing severe mental illness and others emphasizing gun violence. A psychologist asked how society and politicians can unite to protect children and prevent ideological differences from making children collateral damage. The host asked what should happen next and sought a Republican perspective. One commentator asserted the shooter, alleged to be 23-year-old Robin Westman and transgender, was clearly suffering severe mental illness and had access to weapons that enabled the attack. Other panelists countered that gun violence remains a major U.S. problem independent of mental illness.

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