Families of Parkland victims hold Shop In to thank retailers for support

Debbie Hixon bought some socks and shorts for her son and a bathing suit for herself at Dick’s Sporting Goods before going to Walmart for some groceries and cleaning supplies.

It may sound like an average Saturday morning list of things to do, but Hixon was shopping at these particular Coral Springs stores to say thank you.

“They were going out of their way to be helpful,” she said of the staff.

These stores changed their gun sales policies after her husband Chris and 16 other faculty and students were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day.

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it would no longer sell assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines or any firearms to anyone younger than age 21. Walmart also stated it would no longer sell firearms and ammunition to people younger than 21.

“It did catch us off guard,” said April Schentrup, whose 16-year-old daughter, Carmen, was among those killed.

“When we think of businesses sometimes we think they’re think-

ing of that bottom dollar, that bottom line,” she said. “But when they’re making decisions banning assault weapons sales and raising the age limit for sales of all firearms to 21, those are positive, common sense steps, we feel.”

Schentrup and Hixon were among the group of wives, mothers and fathers who used social media to promote a nationwide “Shop In For Moms” on Mother’s Day weekend, urging consumers to patronize retailers who support sensible weapon sales policies.

It seemed to work for Nicole Cook, who has children attending Stoneman Douglas.

“We saw it online so we came in for the Shop In,” she said. “I want them to know that we’re here to support them and we think everything the families are doing is absolutely amazing and we want to do whatever we can to reduce gun violence in society.”

Wearing maroon #MSD Strong T-shirts, Schentrup and Hixon were joined by Caryn DeSacial Schachter, Alex Schachter’s stepmother; Patricia Padauy Oliver, mother of Joaquin Oliver; Jennifer Guttenberg, mother of Jaime Guttenberg; Annika Dworet, mother of Nicholas Dworet; and Gena and Tom Hoyer, the parents of slain student Luke Hoyer.

“They’re my backbone right now,” Gena Hoyer said of the group. “They really take care of us.”

Her husband Tom had mixed emotions.

“It’s a two-edged sword,” he said. “I’m grateful for the group of people we have here [but] it’s a horrible reason to be in a group like this.”

Another group of family, friends and supporters joined the shoppers while wearing black T-shirts with Luke Hoyer’s face on the front and back.

“Luke would be embarrassed if he saw his face that big on a shirt, because he’s shy,” said Gena Hoyer, with a laugh.

Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky’s shopping cart was full when she left the store.

“My sons needed some new clothes and some new sneakers but I’m mainly here to support my friends and the moms from Parkland,” she said.

Schentrup said the group has no immediate plans for a repeat shopping spree but she won’t rule it out.

MIKE STOCKER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Supporters of Gena Hoyer, right, wear T-shirts with images of her son, Luke. He was one of the 17 victims of the Parkland shooting.

MIKE STOCKER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Patricia Oliver, mother of Joaquin Oliver, wears his image on a pin. He was one of the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting in February.