Parents and students expressed outrage over comments made by Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik last Wednesday, at University High School’s Senior Debates event. The Councilman, who told the crowd that the “Mayor took a risk and let me come up before him,” immediately proved what a serious risk the Mayor took with the feelings of young students.
The irascible Kozachik immediately launched into a screed taking pot shots at the parents of at least one of the teenaged students in the room; ignoring the fact that University High School students are the children of a diverse group including Customs and Border Patrol agents, university professors, small business owners, and hourly workers representing a wide range of ideologies.
Kozachik began his speech with a incredible claim that the first thing he heard when he “walked in here today was a discussion about guns.” Then, in what one observer noted must have been intended to honor his audience, Kozachik offered “his own juvenile opinion on guns.”
Kozachik talked about his campaign-stunt-gun-buyback program last month for which he was widely ridiculed and took the opportunity to criticize what he called the “counter rally” to his campaign stunt. One student, who parent was involved in the “counter rally,” was in the crowded UHS auditorium. The student sat stoically while Kozachik bashed her mom and satisfied his pathological obsession by sarcastically thanking former State Senator Frank Antenori for the media loving “counter rally.”
One parent, Christine Bauserman, who was able to attend the “counter rally” said, “Steve Kozachik’s comments concerning his gun buyback program were highly inappropriate and quite offensive to my daughter, who is a junior. My family members are gun advocates. My father was an avid hunter and fisherman and my childhood was spent trailing behind him through woods and fields and learning to shoot at 6 years old. I grew up with guns around me.
My daughter’s father is from a line of serious gun collectors. Yes, guns are collected by some just like coins. My husband and sons enjoy recreational and competitive shooting. My daughter knows how to shoot a gun and she has attended gun shows in Arizona. Imagine how she felt sitting in the audience hearing an elected official impugn her family and their points of view and one of their hobbies.
“My daughter is being raised to stand-up and protect all her rights including her 2nd amendment right. Due to the UHS Senior Debate (the reason for this assembly) we have had a week of discussions on the pros and cons of four different gun control platforms. Where was the counter side to Steve K’s point of view?” Bauserman asked.
“His behavior was very intimidating and highly offensive,” Bauserman continued. “How many students felt equally uncomfortable? Why would he take this moment from these teenagers to push his personal agenda? Then he mentions Senator Antenori, who did take an opposing view. Did it ever occur to our city councilman that maybe some in the audience support Antenori? Again, how is this appropriate? Was he on stage to announce it being “UHS Days” or to campaign for office or to lobby for his upcoming proposal?”
Bauserman then noted that Kozachik’s latest political stunt was similar the assault on conservative kids by radical activist Delores Huerta. Huerta made national headlines several years ago when she proclaimed that Republicans hate Latinos.”
Bauserman says that after Huerta, TUSD “determined that political statements should have opposing views expressed. I think Steve K needs to realize that the town of Tucson does not revolve around him and I think UHS owes it to Senator Antenori or some other politician who supports 2nd Amendment right to express a counter point of view to our kids.”
Some of Tucson’s politicos say Kozachik owes the organizers of the “counter rally.” Without it, little attention would have been brought to the otherwise insignificant media-unworthy gun buyback stunt by a small town politician.
Kozachik proclaimed that to the crowd of youngsters, who were supposed to be honored for their accomplishments, that he had accomplished “without violating open meeting laws” securing the three votes needed for this Tuesdays’ City Council vote requiring background checks on all guns sales on City of Tucson property. The requirement would include person to person gun sales and affect even sales between family members.
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild then took to the podium and quickly proclaimed January 30th, University High School Day in the City of Tucson.
Kozachik, a recently converted republican-to democrat, who will not miss a campaign opportunity, then posed for pictures with the mayor, District Superintendent Pedicone, and the school’s principal.
“He just has to prove to Tucson’s democrats that he is a democrat enough for them, by pushing a gun control agenda in keeping with what he believes is the top priority for democrats. Unfortunately for Steve,” says one district father. “This is the west and even the democrats are gun owners here. It could be a tough sell to anyone outside of the City Council. He sure didn’t sell it to all the kids at UHS.”
One school official said of the stunt and the photo-op it created, “I don’t know anything about Kozachik at UHS, though they sent us some pictures of people glowing over that which they played no role in creating.”
Note: The vote to require background checks will be held Tuesday February 5, at 12 noon during the Tucson City Council Study Session. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the City Council meeting room downtown. For those interested in supporting gun control, organizers will be on hand to provide buttons saying “Common Sense Gun Laws” and their supporters are asked to wear dark blue or black t-shirts.