Shooting survivors expressed their grief and sorrow in a meeting at the White House, where multiple students participated. Justin Gruber, a student who survived the Florida School Shooting said at the White House,
“I was born into a world where I never got to experience safety and peace.” He further added that “There needs to be a significant change in this country because this has to never happen again.”
Several people called President Donald Trump to impose age restrictions on people purchasing firearms and to increase government funding for promoting mental health and school training. Others thanked the President for his quick action towards banning ammunition and equipment used in the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.
“Some of your suggestions, I’ve heard some of them. We’re going to do something about this horrible situation that’s going on,” Trump said. “I want to listen. And then after I listen, we’re going to get things done.”
During the meeting, a parent gave the idea for equipping the school staff and teachers with concealed guns, to which, President Donald Trump replied, “certainly a point we will discuss.” President Donald Trump also sought a hand vote to determine the number of people in favor of the proposal.
“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms that could very well end the attack very quickly,” said President Donald Trump. “We’re going to be looking at that very strongly. And I think a lot of people are going to be opposed to it. I think a lot of people are going to like it.”
President Donald Trump is moved by emotional pleas from students, who have voiced support for various gun control measures. President Donald Trump has also called for a meeting to gather a group of local officials to discuss mental health issues and school safety.
“We’re going to be very strong on background checks,” said President Donald Trump on Wednesday. “There are many ideas I have, there are many ideas that other people have, and we’re going to pick out the strongest ideas, the most important ideas.”
“It’s not going to be talk like it has been in the past,” he added.
In an effort to dismiss the calls for action, some of the high-profile conservatives have repeated the far-right conspiracy theories, including former representative Jack Kingston (R-Ga).
David Clarke Jr. Former Milwaukee County Sheriff tweeted that, “The well-ORGANIZED effort by Florida school students demanding gun control has GEORGE SOROS’ FINGERPRINTS all over it.”
Another Florida shooting survivor and student, Delaney Tarr said, “I figured why not stand in front of these cameras and show them exactly how I feel, show them that I am not a crisis actor, that I am not going off of these pre-written speeches given to me by another person,” in a press conference on Wednesday. He further added that “Because speaking from the heart is what we do best.”