South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK
president, United Way of Broward County. I’m trembling with anger, hurt and frustration — a grocery store, a church and now an elementary school. All within two weeks. Regardless of the motivation, intention and especially mental health status of the perpetrators, all three share one common fact: The guns were bought legally. Shortly after the MSD tragedy, Florida legislators made some changes to the law surrounding the purchasing of firearms, but it’s clear that more work needs to done, because otherwise, more innocent lives will be at risk. As a nation, we have to come together and realize the time for action is now.
Anna Fusco, president, Broward Teachers Union. Our “leaders” need to show responsibility by passing legislation to end the mass shootings we’ve experienced. Soon after a 1996 shooting at Dunblane Primary in Scotland, parliament passed laws resulting in zero school shootings since. That same year, when 35 Australians were killed in a mass shooting, lawmakers passed legislation to reduce gun violence. Immediately following the 2019 shooting at two New Zealand mosques, leaders enacted strict firearms legislation. The House passed two bills last year that might help, but the Senate refuses to act. Why do our elected officials continue to show their tolerance for school shootings? We need action now!
Michael Gottlieb, member, Florida House of Representatives. Ninety percent of all Americans want gun control measures to prevent tragedies like we have seen locally in Parkland and most recently in Texas. A majority of Americans, 70%, also want safe and legal abortions. Yet, the Florida Legislature continues to restrict rights and follow Texas’ lead. In the wake of the recent horrible tragedies, leading Florida Republicans and Gov. DeSantis have stated we will follow Texas’ lead once again and allow for permitless carry of firearms. Eighty-eight percent of Americans favor permitted carry, yet we are going to enact this measure next session. Vote them out; don’t Texas my Florida.
Christine Hunschofsky, member, Florida House of Representatives. School shootings are horrific and, in their aftermath, leave communities filled with grief, devastation and trauma. While those who are affected move forward, they never move on. Every time another school shooting happens, it retraumatizes those impacted by previous school shootings and can also impact parents and children throughout the country with additional fear and anxiety. It is important to acknowledge these impacts on our mental health and to get the support and care we need to remain healthy. Check in on your family and friends. Dial 211 or visit 211-Broward.org to get help and connect to resources in Broward.
president and CEO, Community Foundation of Broward. The sorrow and anger emanating out of Uvalde, Texas, reaches every community in our country and feels sickeningly familiar. This heartbreak mixed with rage is particularly strong in our community, where we are still suffering from the school massacre in Parkland. Four years later, we still mourn the innocent lives lost. And it’s infuriating that our suffering, along with suffering in all communities scarred by mass shootings, isn’t enough to convince our nation to take action. We can improve school security and improve mental health services and have sensible gun control. We have to do more than argue and mourn.
Tina Polsky, member, Florida Senate. Multiple mass shootings in a week. Another tragedy at a school. Gun violence is the number one killer of children. It used to be car accidents, but now it’s guns. Think about the safety improvements in cars and the laws that were passed in our lifetimes — seat belts, airbags, cameras, car seats, handsfree devices and strict DUI laws. And what have we done for gun safety? Guns have only gotten deadlier and our laws have gotten more lax (open carry, assault weapons ban expired). This should be the number one issue for every voter in November. We can save lives if we choose to.
Maria Sachs, member, Palm Beach County Commission. Seven states and Washington D.C. have instituted a ban on assault weapons. It is time for Florida to do the same. The issues that we face as a state are serious and demand legislative review and action. Our legislators have been diligent in addressing these issues head on during session and now in special session. But there is one issue that must now demand the full attention of Republicans and Democrats alike — and that is a ban on assault weapons. This is an American issue, one that defines who we are as a people.
Matt Willhite, member, Florida House of Representatives. The mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde remains in our minds and our hearts. As a parent, I empathize with families all over the country who are uneasy dropping their children off at school. As a lawmaker, I understand there is more than one problem that must be solved in order to prevent future tragedies. When it happened in Florida in 2018, the legislature responded swiftly with the passing of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. I was proud to vote for this, and subsequent legislation to help harden our schools and expand mental health funding, but more can be done. We must work together in a bipartisan manner to effect change; we owe it to our children.