An emotional CNN analyst had to stop his segment when asked about the Florida high school shooting
A 19-year-old former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida this morning. As of 3:31 p.m. PST, authorities have confirmed that 17 people have died and the shooter is in custody. The Florida high school shooting marks the 18th school shooting of 2018.
In a raw display of emotion that resonated with many viewers, CNN counterterrorism analyst Philip Mudd broke down in tears while discussing the tragic incident with Wolf Blitzer.
"I have 10 nieces and nephews. We’re talking about bump stocks, we’re talking about legislation," Mudd the former CIA and FBI official said. "A child of God is dead. Cannot we acknowledge in this country that we cannot accept this? I can’t do it, Wolf, I’m sorry. I can’t do it."
The segment was then cut short.
Some may be surprised to see a counterterrorism expert break down in tears on live TV, but that’s exactly why this moment was so important.
Analysts are hired for their expertise (after a break, Mudd returned to discuss the legal aspects of the Parkland shooting), but the best pundits also provide reasonable and powerful commentary in response to tragedies like this one. And that’s what Mudd did — he articulated the pain, anger, and frustration that so many Americans are experiencing right now.
"A child of God is dead. Can not we acknowledge in this country that we cannot accept this?" Former CIA and FBI official Philip Mudd breaks down into tears following the shooting at a Florida high school https://t.co/y6GqatInij pic.twitter.com/FuuB5gQsOs
— CNN (@CNN) February 15, 2018
Mudd’s emotional CNN appearance struck a chord with viewers, who took to Twitter to show support for the analyst and emphasize that he expressed what so many of us are feeling.
Philip Mudd (Former CIA/FBI) is one of the sternest straight forward guys Ive seen on TV and seeing him visibly break down over these shootings is how I imagine many parents are feeling nowadays … so hopeless that our government will do NOTHING……nothing to try and fix it
— Big Mic (@BigMicRadio) February 14, 2018
Philip Mudd just broke down on CNN, think he speaks for a lot of us today.
— 'viktor shtrum' (@honestdaave) February 14, 2018
We're all Philip Mudd. #CNN
— Littleb 🐝 (@Littleb10) February 14, 2018
Dang, Philip Mudd just lost it on @wolfblitzer’s show. He’s a better man for it.
— janet snakehole (@themeowsterz) February 14, 2018
As Mudd said, the prevalence of school shootings in America cannot be accepted or normalized.
Any conversation about Parkland, Sandy Hook, Columbine, or the 17 other school shootings that have occurred this year is straight-up irresponsible and pointless if it doesn’t include a discussion of concrete actions we can take to prevent future tragedies like this one.
