Stop Gun Violence Board Chairman Brian Lemek released the following statement on the anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School:
Eight years ago the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shook the nation to its core and forced America to confront a painful truth: our gun laws were killing our children. In the face of unimaginable grief, a generation of young people marched and turned their grief into action — and we won meaningful progress that began to save lives.
Today, with Donald Trump back in the White House and extremist groups like Gun Owners of America, the NRA and the corporate gun lobby using White House like their clubhouse, much of that progress has been rolled back.
It’s clear this moment is different — and if we want to save lives, we need a new strategy, not only to make progress, but to defend it in the face of a Trump.
That requires voices from within the gun-owning community itself and activists creating a coalition around the shared belief that protecting our kids and respecting the Second Amendment can and must coexist.
We can and should work together to promote responsible gun ownership and to reduce gun violence through meaningful and obtainable legislation. There is broad agreement on solutions like safe storage laws and red flag laws — measures that keep guns out of dangerous situations while respecting responsible ownership. These are meaningful, achievable steps that reduce violence, prevent tragedy, and strengthen communities.
Eight years after Parkland, it is time for the country to unite around keeping our kids safe, keeping guns out of the wrong hands to keep communities and reduce crime, and respect the constitutional rights of gun owners.
We need to continue saving lives — and that requires meeting this moment with a clear understanding of the political landscape and a strategy built to navigate and shape it.
