The principal of Annunciation School reached out to Vice President Vance, urging action following a tragic shooting that took place on church property.
Matthew DeBoer’s three children were present at the school when the incident occurred, forced to take cover as bullets shattered windows in the sanctuary and nearby surroundings.
His letter addressed both the vice president second lady Usha Vance, whom he told, “we ARE in a war.”
In his letter to the vice president, DeBoer expressed, “This should not be a recurring event… It shouldn’t be simpler for a shooter to acquire a gun than for my child to have a pediatric appointment,” as reported by The Minneapolis Star.
He continued, “It’s alarming that accessing a lethal weapon and shooting 116 rounds into church windows, with children mere feet away, is easier than ordering a meal through Door Dash.”
The 23-year-old alleged shooter, Robin Westman, used three different firearms during the attack, which claimed the lives of two children and injured 18 others.
DeBoer appealed to the Vances for assistance in fostering unity and recognizing that gun violence transcends political boundaries, posing a critical threat to human lives.
“Join us in our humility. Join us in our love. Join us in refusing to participate in the divisive rhetoric about all the topics. We are all human, shooter and victims alike,” DeBoer said.
“Politicians and parents. Prisoners and Saints. We are all made in God’s image and likeness. Join us in believing this, and acting like it.”
Amid concerns for the future of the school, DeBoer said he has forgiven the shooter and tried to reconcile with the incident through scripture and urged others to do the same.
“Let us move forward to build our future filled with hope. Blue and red, American and not American, male and female, slave and free, Gentile and Jew, Vances and Walz(es),” DeBoer concluded.
“Let us all move forward and let us build our future filled with hope hand in hand, rooted in love, together.”
The vice president’s office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the letter. Vance visited the site of the shooting on Wednesday and paid respect to the lives lost due to the violent attack.
