16 FEB 2018: Victims’ relatives and student survivors called for action while the president and congressional leaders offered condolences and condemnation of the crime. Americans with close ties to past school shootings expressed distress at how little has changed. And world leaders, Olympic athletes and TV talk show hosts reacted with horror to the slaying of 17 by a lone gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida.
Here’s what Trump tweeted and one response to it.
“We are all joined together as one American family, and your suffering is our burden also. No child, no teacher, should ever be in danger in an American school.”
_ Donald Trump, addressing the nation the day after the shootings
“You’re right. I’ve been saying this since my mom was murdered at #SandyHook in 2012. So, is it finally time to talk #gunsense? I’m happy to share my experience with you to help brainstorm solutions.”
_ Erica Lafferty, the daughter of slain Sandy Hook Elementary School principal Dawn Hochsprung, responding to Trump on Twitter
“So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behaviour. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!”
_ Trump on Twitter before his Thursday address
Really?
And what does Trump imagine would have, or could have, been done by the authorities? Shifting the blame to ‘mentally disturbed’ or ‘sicko’ a word Trump used to describe the Las Vegas shooter attempts to take the spotlight off the real problem – the ever-increasing gun violence in the US – much of it caused by legitimately purchased weapons. This is not a time for politicians to offer their usual platitudes and ‘thoughts and prayers’ – it’s time to do something. Long past the time, in fact, to enact some common sense regulations on the purchase and ownership of weapons.
Videos captured by students show the terrifying scene inside a Parkland, Florida, high school as a shooter opened fire. Over a dozen people were killed. The shooting suspect is in custody.