In the wake of a Florida high school shooting that killed 17 people, President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka tweeted about prayers. But Democratic lawmakers—and at least one teacher at the school—are calling for more. Specifically, they want legislation on tighter gun control.
Ivanka Trump tweeted on Wednesday evening that she was “praying” for the victims and families affected by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“Praying for the innocent lives lost, their families and the Parkland, Florida community in the wake of today’s unspeakable tragedy,” the first daughter and advisor to the president tweeted.
Praying for the innocent lives lost, their families and the Parkland, Florida community in the wake of today’s unspeakable tragedy.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 15, 2018
Donald Trump had tweeted earlier Wednesday offering his “prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting.”
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
Sen. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) replied to Trump, inviting the president to “get off his ass” and work with lawmakers to “do something” about mass shootings in the U.S.
I agree with every word @realDonaldTrump said here. I invite him to get off his ass and join me in trying to do something about it. https://t.co/XV0hRENr4B
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) February 14, 2018
The sentiment of taking “action” was repeated by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who posted a series of tweets pressing lawmakers to “find the courage” to pass legislation. Giffords survived a shot to the head in 2011 by a gunman who killed six people and injured 18 others during an event for the congresswoman.
Every day we fail to take action, we chose 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.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) February 15, 2018
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.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) February 15, 2018
A teacher at the high school where the fatal shooting occurred told CNN on Wednesday that she feels the “government has failed us and failed our kids” in responding to mass shootings.
“We have trained for this. We’ve trained the kids what to do, and the frustration is that we did everything that we were supposed to do… and still have to have so many casualties… it’s very emotional,” Melissa Falkowski said on Anderson Cooper 360.
Police have taken the suspected shooter, a former student at the school named Nicolas Cruz, into custody.