Staff Reports
United with victims, divided on solutions
After the unspeakable tragedy that occurred Wednesday in Parkland, nothing else comes close to the significance of the event. It is not appropriate — not yet anyway — to talk about bills, sponsors, co-sponsors, filibusters, border walls, shutdowns and DREAMers.
The latter is particularly poignant because many of the victims at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were only beginning to dream of where they wanted to be years from now, and what they might accomplish when they got there. Their parents and loved ones had hopes for them as well.
Heroic adults, who tried to save some of those young lives, also gave theirs in that effort.
The scandal involving the fired White House aide Rob Porter, who is accused of domestic violence, will have to wait. Portergate will still be there next week.
Arguments on the size and scope of President Donald Trump’s budget proposals must simmer on the back burner. While the outcome is important to Florida, any further talk on offshore drilling must remain offshore.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Tuesday, but on Friday we are most interested in his agency’s plans to address this senseless slaughter and offer some ideas on how to finally help prevent yet another one.
The Florida delegation is made up of partisan and moderate politicians representing both parties. All of them, however, are Floridians first and are good at coming together when fellow Floridians are suffering.
Their concerted action to get relief for their constituents harmed by Hurricane Irma is a good example.
Along with both senators, Boca Raton Democrat Ted Deutch must console the families of those involved. Parkland is part of his 22nd Congressional District.
Despite the unity on behalf of the victims and their loved ones, a dose of politics will creep into this, especially from outside our state’s boundaries. Some hold sincere beliefs that further gun restrictions can prevent another Parkland.
Others feel that arming teachers and administrators offers a chance for success. We can only hope that at some point, one side can respect the other’s point of view.
In a perfect world, both sides would agree that this shooter, with obvious mental issues, should not be able to buy a rifle such as the one used to kill our fellow Floridians. It also makes some sense that if a potential shooter does not know who might be carrying in a school, they could think twice.
Hopefully, both sides could agree with Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who literally begged for the authority to act when a threat like this shooter is identified and before he can ruin so many lives.
This publication deals with the relatively well-known names of our members of Congress. While today’s issue will provide some of their reactions to the tragedy, the most important names are those of the known victims, who will be remembered at the end of this issue.
Despite the violent manner in which they perished, may they all somehow rest in peace?
At the same time, God help us all.
Can Trump follow predecessors and uplift the nation after tragedy?
Presidents are often called upon to be emotional healers when tragedy strikes. On Thursday, Trump offered detailed remarks of condolences to those affected by the tragedy in Parkland.
“I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be,” Trump said in a seven-minute address from the White House. “You have people who care about you, who love you, and who will do anything at all to protect you.”
While Trump’s speech stressed the importance of mental health and school safety improvements, The Associated Press noted that his latest budget request would slash Medicaid, a major source of federal funding for the treatment of mental health problems, as well as cut school safety programs by more than a third.
Just after taking office last year, Trump also signed a resolution blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally disabled people.
History provides excellent examples of chief executives uplifting the country when acts of violence or war slaughter their fellow countrymen. The most famous is Franklin D. Roosevelt telling a joint session of Congress, and the American people, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” on December 8, 1941.
“You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything,” President Bill Clinton told the people of Oklahoma City on April 23, 1995, after car bombing of a federal building. “And you have certainly not lost America, for we will stand with you for as many tomorrows as it takes.”
Following 9/11, President George W. Bush said “This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.”
At a memorial service in Tucson, Arizona on January 12, 2011, President Barack Obama honored one of the survivors, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and those who perished at the hands of a mass murderer.
“The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better,” he said. “To be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors and co-workers and parents.”
On Thursday, Trump issued a proclamation honoring the victims of Parkland and ordering flags fly at half-staff.
“Our Nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,” the proclamation read.
He also sent out a tweet Thursday saying “In times of tragedy, the bonds that sustain us are those of family, faith, community and country.”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/964190995687591936
Nelson all-in on gun control; Rubio leaves door cracked to prevent massacres
Florida’s senators offered competing messages following Wednesday’s tragedy at in Parkland. No one would be surprised with either response.
Three-term Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is singularly focused on what is needed to help eliminate gun violence in this country. On Thursday he took to the Senate floor to demand action on banning certain weapons.
Many Republicans will often say that the immediate aftermath of a shooting is not the time to talk about gun control. They will call for figuring out what happened before deciding upon a course of action.
“To those who say now that it’s not the time to talk about gun violence because it’s too soon, we don’t want to politicize right after a tragedy, that’s what is said over and over,” Nelson said. “Then I would ask when the time is?”
Nelson was specific about what he wants to ban. The shooter used an AR 15, semi-automatic rifle.
“Let’s talk about that 19-year-old carrying an AR-15,” Nelson said, referring to the Parkland shooter, Nikolas Cruz. “Let’s do what needs to be done and let’s get these assault weapons off our streets.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also took to the Senate floor. He said that it is very difficult to stop someone “who decides that they’re going to take it upon themselves to kill people,”
Rubio also discussed “red flags” left by Cruz via social media. Included was a YouTube video where he revealed his desire to be “a professional school shooter.”
While recommitting to the Second Amendment, Rubio also reminded that the preamble to the Constitution calls for ensuring domestic tranquility and general welfare.
“I’m not saying don’t focus on the gun part,” Rubio said. “But we also have to focus on the violence part.”
Lawson proposes enhanced security to prevent gun violence
The Democrat from Tallahassee released a sympathetic statement regarding the school shooting in Parkland. He is urging heightened security measures to improve the safety of schools nationwide.
“Our children go to school to learn, but are now faced with this reoccurring epidemic,” he said in a statement released on Wednesday night. “It is unfortunate we are at this place again, and these senseless tragedies are happening far too often.
Lawson admonished his colleagues to do more to ensure schools are better protected.
“Gun violence should not be tolerated, and our government has to do its part by providing resources and proper security measures to ensure the safety of our children,” he said.
Orlando delegation members share grief with South Florida colleagues
Orlando Democrats Darren Soto and Val Demings both released statements regarding the school shooting in Parkland. Both know something about mass murders as they represented constituents killed in the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016.
Soto offered a subdued statement saying “It never gets easier to bear the news of a school shooting in America. It devastates me, along with our community, that children faced such horror in their school today.”
He thanked law enforcement for their efforts and chose not to get into the gun control debate for the moment.
Demings, the former Chief of Police for Orlando, did not hold back.
“My heart goes out to the families of the children and school staff who lost their lives. I am heartbroken about this tragedy,” she said. “And I am outraged that Congress has done nothing to keep children and families safe. Members of Congress lack the courage to act, and think more about their next election than the right of our children to go to school in safety,” she said.
With a recent history of gun violence in their communities, both will be heard from in the debate to come shortly.
Wasserman Schultz, Graham emotionally react like moms to Parkland massacre
The Parkland mass shooting brings out emotions in people who are not directly involved but can relate to affected families. Current and former legislators are parents, too.
Weston Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews not long after the police arrested a suspect. She gave an emotional response to a Matthews question.
To view the video, click the image below:
“I’m a mom tonight,” she said. “I’m someone who lives and works and spends time with the people who have lived through this. It’s just absolutely heartbreaking.”
“My best friend is a countywide school board member and is my youngest daughter’s godmother,” she said, tearing up. “This hits home hard.”
Matthews then predicted another shooting would occur “in a couple of months,” before any action is taken on gun control.
Wasserman Schultz said “it’s absolutely not too soon to yet again say that something has to be done about access to guns in this country … We have to address the inability for us to, once and for all, get guns and keep them from the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, a Democratic candidate for governor, also reacted like a parent, before addressing the overriding issue. Her initial statement did not specifically advocate for gun control, but emotionally talked about making schools safer.
“As a mother, I am crushed. And as a Floridian, I am incensed,” she said. “We must act to prevent these tragedies. We must turn our anguish into the will to protect our children, teachers and families.
Deutch grieves with constituents
The Democrat who represents Parkland and the surrounding area shared the grief and heartbreak felt by his constituents Wednesday. He also announced resources to those in need of assistance.
“Today was a horrible day for Parkland, South Florida, and our nation,” he said in a statement. “We are grateful for our first responders, local, state and federal law enforcement, and especially the teachers and staff who heroically fought to protect their students. We mourn the lives taken, and we will be here as a community for the families and for one another.”
Video with Deutch can be viewed by clicking the image below:
Deutch also provided information for those in need of counseling and ways to donate blood.
The FBI will continue to investigate the crime in the coming days. Deutch gave out information for the Bureau’s tipline and website for constituents to provide any useful information.
Two weeks ago, Deutch and Jacksonville Republican John Rutherford introduced the STOP School Violence Act of 2018. The legislation provides a grant program to enhance school security.
In Memoriam
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14
Scott Beigel, 35
Martin Duque, 14
Nicholas Dworet, 17
Aaron Feis, 37
Jaime Guttenberg, 14
Chris Hixon, 49
Luke Hoyer, 15
Cara Loughran, 14
Gina Montalto, 14
Joaquin Oliver, 17
Alaina Petty, 14
Meadow Pollack, 18
Helena Ramsey, 17
Alex Schacter, 14
Carmen Schentrup, 16
Peter Wang, 15
