Page 20 - HOSPITAAL

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 22 February 2018

Angry teens swarm into Florida Capitol demand new gun laws

were not serious about re- children's lives" and then
form, and they cautioned listed Republicans in Flori-
that they would oppose in da's congressional delega-
future elections any law- tion. Other signs said, "Kill
maker who takes cam- the NRA, not our kids" and
paign contributions from "These kids are braver than
the National Rifle Associa- the GOP."
tion. College students also
"We've spoke to only a few joined in the rally. Florida
legislators and ... the most State University students
we've gotten out of them Apolline Demiraj, 19, and
is, 'We'll keep you in our Lindsay Rapp, 20, held signs
thoughts. You are so strong. that said "Protect Our Kids,
You are so powerful,'" said Not Guns" and "Stop Priori-
Delaney Tarr, a senior at tizing the NRA Over Lives —
the high school. "We know Ban the AR-15."
what we want. We want Some of their classmates
gun reform. We want com- graduated from the high
monsense gun laws. ... We school and knew some of
want change." the victims, they said.
She added: "We've had "It's just not normal that it
enough of thoughts and keeps happening, and if we
prayers. If you supported can help make a change
Aria Siccone, 14, a 9th grade student survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where us, you would have made so that it never happens
more than a dozen students and faculty were killed in a mass shooting on Wednesday, cries as a change long ago. So this again, I will protest here ev-
she recounts her story from that day, while state Rep. Barrinton Russell, D-Dist. 95, comforts her, as
they talk to legislators at the state Capitol regarding gun control legislation, in Tallahassee, Fla., is to every lawmaker out ery day," Demiraj said. "We
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. there: No longer can you have so many friends that
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) take money from the NRA. went to Douglas and who
We are coming after you. have lost people there, so
By B. FARRINGTON, care for the mentally ill. They were welcomed into We are coming after every it really was a slap in the
G. FINEOUT, T. LUSH The normally staid Florida the gun-friendly halls of single one of you, demand- face." Demiraj registered
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — statehouse filled with stu- power, but the students' ing that you take action." to vote as soon as the rally
A week after a shooter dents, including more than top goal — a ban on as- Outside the building, the ended and said the Park-
slaughtered 17 people in 100 survivors of the Feb. 14 sault-style rifles such as the crowd burst into chants of land shooting will influence
a Florida high school, thou- attack at Marjorie Stone- weapon used in the massa- "Vote them out" as speak- her vote.
sands of angry teenag- man Douglas High School cre — was taken off the ta- ers called for the removal Elsewhere, teens in at least
ers swarmed into the state in Parkland, on the edge of ble a day earlier, although of Republican lawmakers a dozen South Florida
capitol on Wednesday, the Everglades. Many held more limited measures are who refuse to address gun schools walked out of class
calling for changes to gun signs, chanted slogans and still possible. control issues. One sign to protest gun violence
laws, a ban on assault-type burst into lawmakers' offic- Many protesters com- read, "Remember the men and commemorate the
weapons and improved es demanding to be heard. plained that lawmakers who value the NRA over shooting victims.q

Colorado congressman booed as people demand action on guns

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Coffman's swing district shooting that killed 13. this year. The raw emo- Columbine shooting and an
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, in the Denver suburbs is In a district that voted for tions at Coffman's town attack at a nearby school
Colo. (AP) — Grumbling all too familiar with mass Democrats Barack Obama hall shows how guns have in 2013 that killed one stu-
and jeers met the request shootings. A few miles to in 2012 and Hillary Clinton in become a volatile issue in dent. Her son had planned
for a moment of silence the northeast of the high 2016, Coffman has been a an already hyper-charged to see a midnight showing
for the 17 people killed last school that hosted Tues- perennial political target for midterm election, stoking of the new Batman movie
week in the Florida school day's town hall is the loca- Democrats. He is in his fifth passions that will be difficult the night that the gunman
shooting. "Let's do some- tion of the Aurora theater term, but Democrats have for Democrats to contain, attacked the audience in
thing for them!" one man massacre, where 12 people not made gun control a and difficult for embattled Aurora. Yet, she told Coff-
yelled at the beginning of were shot to death in 2012. centerpiece of their cam- Republicans like Coffman man, she hadn't spoken
Republican Rep. Mike Coff- A few miles to the south- paigns for votes though the to defend against. out until watching students
man's town hall Tuesday west of the town hall site, electorate is evenly split Patti Seno, 53, broke into from Marjory Stoneman
night. Another participant just across the district line, between Democrats, Re- tears as she recounted how Douglas High in Parkland,
cried out, "We're done with is Columbine High School, publicans and those unaf- her husband, a firefighter, Florida, campaign for new
thoughts and prayers!" the site of the 1999 school filiated. That could change was on the scene of the gun laws.q