On Tuesday, Josselyn Berry, the press secretary for Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, announced her resignation after facing pressure for a tweet she posted in the aftermath of the shooting at Nashville’s Presbyterian-run Covenant School on Monday.
In the tweet, Berry had suggested “transphobes” should be “gunned down”.
The GIF accompanying her tweet was taken from the 1980 film “Gloria” and showed actress Gena Rowlands wielding two pistols. Reacting to Berry’s tweet, Arizona Freedom Caucus said that calling for violence is never acceptable and demanded her immediate firing.
Less than 12 hours after the tragic shooting in Nashville by a deranged transgender activist @katiehobbs’ Press Secretary calls for shooting people Democrats disagree with.
Calling for violence like this is un-American & never acceptable.@joss_berry should be fired immediately pic.twitter.com/wYHHkmsNNE
— Arizona Freedom Caucus (@AZFreedomCaucus) March 29, 2023
Later on Tuesday, authorities revealed that shooter of six people at the Christian school legally purchased seven guns from five different stores. Her parents acknowledged knowing she sold a firearm previously but were not aware she owned others. A source close to the family also said that the shooter was undergoing care for an undisclosed “emotional disorder” and they believed she was autistic but high functioning. Police further found a detailed map of the school along with a manifesto when they searched her parent’s home.
In a statement, Hobbs’ office said: “The Governor does not condone violence in any form…This post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration … The Governor has received and accepted the resignation of the Press Secretary.”
