By now, the pattern is clear: Following a mass shooting in the United States, blue-checked Twitter accounts renew their calls for gun control and cries about something being done to mitigate the violence.

“Ellen” producer Andy Lassner was no different when he posted a tweet about the need to “start talking” about ways to address the recent spate of mass murders.

“Here’s the truth,” he wrote. “I don’t have the answer to the gun problem. The mass shootings. I don’t want to take guns away from law abiding citizens. Many people in my life own guns. But, we have a serious problem and we MUST start talking about gun violence solutions in a bipartisan way.”

Here’s the truth. I don’t have the answer to the gun problem. The mass shootings. I don’t want to take guns away from law abiding citizens. Many people in my life own guns. But, we have a serious problem and we MUST start talking about gun violence solutions in a bipartisan way. — andy lassner (@andylassner) September 1, 2019

Taking him up on his offer for a discussion was former NRA spokesperson and nationally-syndicated radio show host Dana Loesch, who is a prominent supporter of the Second Amendment.

She made some common-sense suggestions that would and should please both sides of the gun-control debate, saying, “We have to penalize agencies that do not submit all prohibited cases to NCIC (Charleston, Sutherland Springs). They’re not following the law. Also need to stop coddling dangers offenders in their youth by preventing establishment of criminal record (Dayton, Parkland).”

We have to penalize agencies that do not submit all prohibited cases to NCIC (Charleston, Sutherland Springs). They’re not following the law. Also need to stop coddling dangers offenders in their youth by preventing establishment of criminal record (Dayton, Parkland). — Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 1, 2019

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Apparently it did to Lassner.

Well this is definitely a start. — andy lassner (@andylassner) September 1, 2019

But Vox “journalist” Aaron Rupar decided to butt into what was otherwise a shockingly respectful conversation, given how high political tensions have been running lately. And instead of offering his own solutions, Rupar merely sought to shut down any and all discourse with Loesch by declaring her a persona non-grata for having worked with the National Rifle Association.

It’s silly to earnestly engage with a former paid NRA gun shill on the topic of preventing gun violence — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 2, 2019

Twitter was quick to respond to Rupar’s interruption of actual, constructive discourse — and it wasn’t pleasant for the lefty writer.

So @andylassner tweets that he wants a legitimate solution to gun violence@DLoesch provides a legitimate solution to help@atrupar bitches at Andy to stop engaging with Dana It’s almost as if these people don’t want a solution and just want to use it as a talking point…. pic.twitter.com/UiuVNiRtok — Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) September 2, 2019

It’s incredibly counterproductive to detract from honest dialogue about a mutual problem & potential solutions because you don’t like who’s throwing out ideas. — Smirque De Sar (@FoundersGirl) September 2, 2019

Maybe if you cared about an issue and thought you could make a living advocating for it you would. Do you refer to all Planned Parenthood spokesfolks as paid shills? — Avigdor Loeb (@AvigdorLoeb) September 2, 2019

And queue the Vox “journalist” calling for more ignorance and tribalism. Nice addition to the dialogue. Very on brand. — Brother Seamus (@WaynePelota) September 2, 2019

No it isn’t. They have skin in the game and they know guns. The NRA represents millions of gun owners. If you genuinely want to move the needle on this, they and those aligned with them have to be part of the conversation. — Mr.Weatherbee (@WeatherbeeMr) September 2, 2019

Aaron keeping up the trend of vox writers being some of the dumbest people on this site. That’s quite a feat, my dude. — Tweeter for fun (@thingummywat) September 2, 2019