HomeMy WebLinkAboutStudents return, wary but hopeful, to school shooting site - Metro - 02/27/2018 - Metro - 02/27/20182/28/2018
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Students return, wary but hopeful, to school shooting site
Students retuirin, wairy. but Iholpefulll, -to schoollshoo-tiling site
By: Kelli Kennedy Terry Spencer And Robert Ray The Associated Press, Ihubllished on 1Fue IFeb 27 2018
PARKLAND, Fla. — About 50 uniformed police officers marched into Marjory Stoneman Douglas
High School early Wednesday as classes resumed for the first time since 17 students and
teachers were killed by an expelled classmate with an AR -15, thrusting them into the centre of
the nation's gun debate.
Grief counsellors are on campus as well "to provide a lot of love, a lot of understanding" and help
students "ease back" into their school routines, Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie
said.
A long line of cars circled the school and dozens of television trucks and vehicles were camped
out nearby as students, parents and staff were ushered through a security cordon.
A banner "Welcome Back Eagles" sign covers the main entrance, and the walkway leading onto
the campus was lined with flowers, photographs and other memorials to the those killed. Some of
the students were returning despite severe gun wounds, but even those who weren't hit by
bullets spoke of emotional trauma.
Alexis Grogan, a 15 -year-old sophomore, planned to wear a Stoneman Douglas colour —
maroon — on the first day back to class Wednesday, plus sneakers that say "MSD Strong, be
positive, be passionate, be proud to be an eagle" and "2/14/18" in honour of those who died.
She feels nervous, like it might be too soon to go on as usual without slain friends like Luke
Hoyer, who sat two seats behind her in Spanish. Still, the support from her fellow students, and
their fight to strengthen gun control laws have buoyed her spirits.
"I am so proud of how the kids at my school have been fighting because we all want change to
happen and, as we see the progression, it really shows us that people do care and they do hear
what we have to say," Grogan said in a text message.
The Douglas students return to school after a whirlwind of political activism that has reignited the
nation's gun and school -safety debate. Douglas sophomore Charlotte Dixon said some of her
friends are having a hard time returning to classes. But like Grogan, they are encouraged by the
attention to gun laws their actions have brought.
"I'm so glad that people are stepping forward and talking about keeping it relevant ... because it
shouldn't happen to anyone ever again," Dixon said.
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2/28/2018
Students return, wary but hopeful, to school shooting site
On Tuesday, relatives of the Stoneman Douglas victims kept up the pressure in Florida's capital
with emotional testimony during a legislative hearing to discuss passing a bill that would, among
other things, raise the age limit to buy long guns from 18 to 21. The bill also would create a
program that allows teachers who receive law-enforcement training and are deputized by the
local sheriffs office to carry concealed weapons in the classroom, if also approved by the school
district. The school's superintendent has spoken out firmly against that measure.
The House Appropriations Committee's 23-6 vote in favour of the bill Tuesday followed more
than four hours of emotional discussion with the parents of some of the 17 killed, and nearly two
weeks of activism by students on social media and in televised debates.
Gov. Rick Scott, who met with officials in Miami -Dade County on Tuesday, said at a news
conference that he hopes a gun and school -safety bill is passed before Florida's annual
legislative session ends on March 9. He had proposed measures that overlap with the
Legislature's plan but did not include arming teachers. However, he declined to say Tuesday
whether he would veto the sweeping package if it included that provision.
The Senate's version of the school -safety bill was approved by a second committee on a 13-7
vote Tuesday evening. Sen. Bill Galvano, who is designated to become the next Senate
president and is ushering through the bill, said the earliest it will be considered by the full Senate
is Friday.
Marion Hammer, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association and Unified Sportsmen of Florida,
told the House Appropriations Committee that she supports tightening school security and
keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, but not the House bill's gun -ownership
restrictions, which she later said would not have stopped the Parkland shooting.
"Part of what we need to do is make people understand that guns are not the problem," she said
after the hearing. "So passing more laws dealing with guns as a solution to a problem that exists
within the enforcement of laws is just kind of silly."
Max Schachter, father of 14 -year-old victim Alex Schachter, said the bill the House committee
eventually approved doesn't go far enough — but could have saved his son.
"if we would have had these measures in place, I would not have had to bury my son next to his
mother a week and a half ago.... I'm pleading for your help. I'm willing to compromise. Are you?"
he asked.
Outside the school on Tuesday, people tied poems to the chain-link fence surrounding the
school, and dropped off red, heart -shaped balloons. The building where the shooting occurred
was cordoned off, and people signed photographs of the fallen.
Junior Sidney Fischer, 17, was in a Holocaust history class when the shooter aimed his gun at
the window and shot into the room. Two students in his classroom died. He's planning to wear
swim goggles on his first day back Wednesday to honour his friend Nicholas Dworet, who was an
accomplished swimmer.
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2/28/2018
Students return, wary but hopeful, to school shooting site
"Obviously our school will never be the same, but I think once we get back into our normal
routine people will shift back into a comfortable state," Fischer said.
He's planning to ride to school with a friend —just like they did before the shooting.
"I'm actually not too scared of going back tomorrow," he said. "There is this sort of looming
thought that someone will try to perform another shooting but I'm sure our school will be riddled
with security."
Associated Press writers Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee and Curt Anderson in Miami
contributed to this report.
Follow the AP's complete coverage of the Florida school shooting here:
https://apnews.com/tag/Floridaschoolshooting
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