Gun reform, school safety forum turns rowdy
It was promoted as an “enlightened discussion” on gun reform and school safety. But it quickly became a shouting match as a handful of sign-waving opponents of gun control interrupted the event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale.
The Florida Gun and Knife Show was originally scheduled there Saturday but it was canceled. Mayorelect Dean Trantalis — a long-time opponent of gun shows in the city — said he saw an opportunity.
“Only as a result of the tragedy in Parkland did the promoter decide to cancel this one show,” Trantalis said. “So I figured it was a wonderful opportunity to talk about gun violence and talk about violence in schools and our community overall.”
But as local, state, and federal elected officials took turns suggesting solutions, the opponents shouted out their objections.
“It’s a voter registration drive,” said Jim Morlock. “It’s not enlightened. It’s a stacked deck here. This is supposed to be a discussion and there’s no other side to their discussion.”
Bob and Emily Robes traveled from Coral Springs hoping to see a balanced discourse on a divisive topic, but then the shouting started.
“I walked up to some of them and told them I’m a Republican and said, ‘Frankly I’m embarrassed by the way you’re conducting yourselves and I wish it would be more productive,’ and they just got aggressive in my face,” Bob Robes said.
State Sen. Gary Farmer Jr., (D-Fort Lauderdale) said he wanted to hear their views too, but not like this.
“I favor all sides being given an opportunity to be heard and speak. That’s a cornerstone of our democracy. But that group never reached out and asked to be a part of this discussion to my knowledge,” he said. “They never wanted to be on the panel. They don’t want to hear this other side.”
The boisterous event took on the characteristics of a campaign rally, especially when members of Congress spoke to the audience.
“I have a lot of experience speaking over hecklers, so I will be just fine,” Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (DFL) shouted from the stage.
Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL), in a moment of levity, invited protesters to meet him and his son outside if they wanted to settle their differences.
Veteran Jason Lindsay told the audience he knows where assault weapons are needed and where they are not.
“The NRA thinks that everyone in our country needs military-grade assault weapons just like I carried on the streets of Baghdad, and that’s b-------,” he said to cheers.
Opponents were silent when Jacob Zaslav spoke. The freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School vowed students would not give up their pursuit of gun reforms or mental health care solutions as public attention fades.
“Schools, like my school MSD, are places of learning,” he said to the cheering audience. “They should not be places where teachers, students and staff need to take cover as if they were in a war zone.”
A panel discussion the speeches.
The gun show was for May.
“I hope I never have to talk about gun reform again,” Trantalis said. “I hope I never have to talk about school tragedies or tragedies that occur at airports or malls. I hope I never have to talk about it again.” followed rescheduled