Five years ago, tragedy struck Parkland, Florida, when a madman took the lives of 17 people, including 14 high school students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
This Tuesday, President Biden marked the fifth anniversary of this massacre by pushing for more stringent gun control measures and boasting about the gun control measures his administration had already taken.
Ryan Petty, who lost his 14-year-old daughter in the shooting, came out strongly against the president’s actions, tweeting:
“Don’t use my daughter’s death to advance your political agenda. Because of your politicized FBI, failed Obama-era school discipline policies, and a sheriff that cared more about his image in the community than enforcing the law, a maniac was allowed to attack a school. Try learning what really happened.” Petty then provided a link to an official report submitted to the governor and state legislature about what happened during the shooting.
When asked about his opinion on the matter by Fox News Digital, Petty said that gun control was not the answer to preventing further school shootings, stating:
“I don’t think gun control would solve these problems. There are too many guns already in the hands of Americans across the country. The thought that we can pass some new gun control law and protect our schools just doesn’t make any sense, especially when you understand what happened.”
Petty went on to explain that school shootings are complex and require multiple solutions and preventative tactics. He believes that schools can take practical steps to make their environment safer for students, saying:
“Criminals don’t obey gun laws. The only way to make our schools safer is by implementing a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of school shootings.”
Petty is a member of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission and the founder of the WalkUp Foundation, which works to protect students and teachers at schools through evidence-based policies and programs.
Don’t use my daughter’s death to advance your political agenda. Because of your politicized FBI, failed Obama era school discipline policies and a Sheriff that cared more about his image in the community than enforcing the law, a maniac was allowed to attack a school. Try… https://t.co/XdbTgnDNmI
— Ryan Petty (@rpetty) February 14, 2023
Unfortunately, tragedy is being used as a platform for pushing a political agenda. We must remember those who have been lost in such heinous acts of violence and work to find solutions that will make our schools safer for everyone, without infringing on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.