Marjory Stoneman Douglas students David Hogg, Cameron Kasky and Emma Gonzalez have played a big role in organizing marches against gun violence since seventeen of their classmates were gunned down in February by a disturbed young man. There have been disputes about how best to prevent another tragedy like the one these young adults witnessed. For Hogg, Kasky, Gonzalez and some liberal lawmakers, the answer is gun control. That was apparent during heavily attended March for Our Lives on the National Mall. Another school walkout is scheduled for this Friday.
Kyle Kashuv, himself an MSD student, takes a different approach. He tried to organize a campus event for conservative activist Charlie Kirk to speak about why protecting the Second Amendment is more important than ever. Administrators told him he wasn't allowed, so Kashuv is hosting a Facebook live instead. After all, he's asked, what will these marches accomplish?
Hunter Pollack, whose 18-year-old sister Meadow was killed in the Valentine's Day shooting at MSD, also believes these marches are misguided. Instead of walking for gun control, why not take a stand against the law enforcement failures that are partly to blame for letting the shooter slip through the cracks?
If we're going to march, it should be for the failures of the local sheriffs office, the politically motivated FBI, and the Incompetent school board who failed my sister, and 16 other beautiful innocent people.
— Hunter Pollack (@PollackHunter) April 18, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel washed his hands of the situation, in a sense. While school resource officer Scot Peterson failed to act, Israel said he had done his part by giving the deputy all the training. It's not his fault, Israel said, that Peterson didn't use said training.
We may soon learn how much the officer neglected his duties. A judge has ordered the Broward County sheriff's office to release more footage from the officers' response to the shooting.
The FBI's response rate was similarly stunted. Reports reveal how the agency failed to properly act after receiving disturbing tips about the eventual school shooter, Nikolas Cruz.
Yet, it seems the media is more interested in using the NRA as their scapegoat. They have assured that Hogg, Kasky, Gonzalez and other gun control advocates in Parkland stay in the spotlight a bit longer. Time Magazine just named them some of the "Most Influential" people of 2018. They also have a book coming out.