Columnist Spotlights Troubling Trend (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Las Vegas – A column highlighting a pattern of violence among transgender individuals has prompted sharp responses from readers questioning traditional norms and urging a turn toward love and understanding.
Columnist Spotlights Troubling Trend
Victor Joecks, a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, published a piece on February 17 examining several high-profile mass shootings where perpetrators identified as transgender or nonbinary.[1]
He argued that media outlets often obscured these individuals’ gender identities, using preferred pronouns despite biological reality. Joecks contended that affirming delusions through hormones and surgeries fails to provide true compassion and may contribute to frustration and anger. Instead, he advocated accepting biological sex as an act of kindness.[1]
The column listed incidents such as a recent shooting at an ice skating rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, by Robert Dorgan, who called himself Roberta Esposito after undergoing surgery. Other cases included killings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia; a Catholic school in Minneapolis; a Christian school in Nashville; and the Club Q nightclub in Colorado.
Readers Push Back on Blame
Neal Matzkin of Henderson responded in a letter published last week, challenging Joecks’ perspective. He acknowledged the violence but attributed it partly to harassment faced by those outside cis-heterosexual norms.[2]
Matzkin questioned whether the issue stemmed from the transgender individuals’ reality or norms shaped by views like Joecks’. He suggested showing grace and Christian charity to those struggling, noting that most transgender decisions affect only the individuals themselves, except in areas like sports.[2]
Call to Transform Fear into Love
Kurt Smith from Boise, Idaho, followed with a letter on March 1, thanking Matzkin for his response. Smith, identifying as transsexual, asserted that transgender people fully accept their reality and live peaceful lives aligned with their souls.[3]
He flipped the narrative, stating that those viewing differences with fear and ignorance bear the real struggle. Smith emphasized that love represents the sole Christian-based norm, empowering spirit and prosperity through knowledge. He encouraged everyone to learn from those who differ, transforming ignorance and hate into love.[3]
Incidents Fueling the Discussion
Joecks cited these examples to illustrate his point:
- Robert Dorgan (Roberta Esposito): Killed two at a Rhode Island ice rink after surgery.[1]
- Jesse Van Rootselaar: Killed eight, including children, in British Columbia.[1]
- Unnamed shooter: Killed two children at a Minneapolis Catholic school in 2025.[1]
- Nashville Christian school shooter (2023): Killed six.[1]
- Club Q nightclub (2022): Claimed nonbinary identity.[1]
Key Takeaways
- Affirming biological reality versus enabling identity changes divides opinions.
- Violence patterns draw scrutiny, but causes spark disagreement on harassment versus delusion.
- Love emerges as a unifying Christian principle amid the debate.
This exchange in the Las Vegas Review-Journal letters section underscores broader tensions between traditional values and calls for acceptance. As discussions continue, the focus remains on balancing truth, compassion, and societal harmony. What do you think about this debate? Tell us in the comments.
