Another school shooting: Let’s get this figured out
February 14, 2018
It’s Valentine’s Day. But, yet again, kids and teachers die in school a massacre caused by a gunman.
With 17 killed and 14 wounded, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Wednesday, is among the nation’s deadliest school shootings.
President Donald Trump said in a Tweet:
“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.”
Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican who received an "A+" rating from the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund, said:
"There is a time to continue to have these conversations about how, through law enforcement, how through mental illness funding, to keep people safe, and we'll continue to do that."
Superintendent Robert W. Runcie said:
“Our District is dealing with an unimaginable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. There are no words to express the sorrow that we are all feeling. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the entire Marjory Stoneman Douglas community.
“As our district continues to work with law enforcement – we are focusing on providing our students, families, and employees with the support and resources needed to cope with this devastating situation. We have grief counselors and crisis teams ready to assist, and we will be providing details to all of our families and staff as we move forward. Dealing with this tragedy is going to take time – and we will be here for every student, every family and every staff member.
“Our hearts are broken. Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.”
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords said:
“The accounts from today’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida strike fear into all Americans. Is it safe to send our kids to school? Are we safe in our homes and communities? But our fear cannot compare to what our innocent children felt as the gunshots rang out, bullets flew through the halls of their school, and their teachers and classmates were gunned down.
“Even in our grief, we must summon the courage to fight against this fear. Americans must find the courage to imagine a country where these massacres do not occur. Our leaders must find the courage to escape the confines of their politics and pursue the moral necessity of peace and safety.
“If I could offer protection to the 315 Americans who are shot every day, I would. But we can’t wall ourselves from the threat of gun violence, nor will we find safety in the deadly cycle of arming ourselves against each other.
“The defenders of the status quo – advocates of the firearms industry and the politicians paid to defend it – will tell you that events like these are virtual acts of nature, products of mental illness or bad parenting, beyond our ability to control. This could not be further from the truth. Every day we fail to take action, we choose this fate. We tolerate politicians who fail to acknowledge this crisis and vote against our safety. We let our gun violence epidemic continue day after deadly day.
“My heart is with the victims and survivors, and my gratitude is with Broward County’s courageous first responders. The question now is if we will find the courage to pass the laws we need to protect our children, to stop dangerous people from accessing guns. And if Congress won’t act, American voters must.”
Since the beginning of the year, 18 school shootings have occurred, according to the Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence website.
Let's figure out what needs to be done to stop school shootings and other gun violence. Conservatives who love their guns are acting like the modern United States is the old Wild, Wild West. This thinking must change to stop the killing. It must be done now.
I am in awe of the teens at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They are tired of the b/s coming from politicians and doing something about it.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 21, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, I agree. President Truump said he'd issue regulations on bumpstocks and that wouldn't have happened without these great teen activists.
I'm urging people to check out their members of Congress, state legislators, and governors to see if they get money from the National Rifle Association. If so, they should sign up to run against them. Filing is usually in the spring for fall elections.
Rits
Posted by: Rita | February 21, 2018 at 11:42 AM