Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 1 March 2018

Hugs, tears and police: High school reopens after shooting

Continued from Front program aimed at alterna-
tives to the juvenile justice
In each classroom, colored system. Critics have sug-
pencils, coloring books, gested the program led
stress balls and toys were to lenience for Cruz, but
available to help students the superintendent said
cope. Wednesday that the sus-
“It’s not how you go down. pect was never was part of
It’s how you get back up,” the program.
said Casey Sherman, a Florida Gov. Rick Scott
17-year-old junior. She said said he hopes a gun and
she was not afraid to be re- school-safety bill is passed
turn, “just nervous.” before the annual legisla-
Many students said the de- tive session ends March 9.
bate over new gun laws The measures he proposed
helped them process the did not include arming
traumatic event and pre- teachers, but he declined
pared them to return. to say Tuesday whether
Alexis Grogan, a 15-year- he would veto a sweeping
old sophomore, was con- package that includes that
cerned that it might be provision.
too soon to go on as usual The Broward superin-
without slain friends such tendent has spoken out
as Luke Hoyer, who sat two against the idea of arming
seats behind her in Spanish teachers.
class. Students carrying flowers wait to cross the street after their first day back at Marjory Stoneman Marion Hammer, a lobbyist
“Seeing everyone was Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. The students were greeted for the National Rifle Asso-
Wednesday morning by police officers carrying military style rifles and an array of counselors and
good, but emotionally I therapy dogs. They missed two weeks of school following the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed ciation and Unified Sports-
was in shambles. I probably several students and teachers. men of Florida, said she
broke down into tears 10- (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) supports school security
plus times and had to walk guns to anyone under 21. in classrooms if their school warning signs. and keeping guns out of
out of my classes multiple The company’s CEO took district allows it. Those The Florida House voted the hands of the mentally
times throughout the day,” on the NRA by demanding teachers would receive Wednesday to subpoe- ill, but “guns are not the
she said. tougher gun laws. law-enforcement training na records from Broward problem.”
As classes resumed, Dick’s At the Florida Capitol, a and get deputized by the County and the school Kashuv said he was most
Sporting Goods, a major House committee voted local sheriff’s office. board, as well as sheriff’s moved by a tattoo his
U.S. retailer, announced Tuesday in favor of a bill State lawmakers continued offices in Broward and teacher got that said “MSD
that it would immediately to raise the minimum age their investigation of how Palm Beach counties and Strong” with a giant eagle.
halt sales of assault-style to buy long guns from 18 the suspected shooter, the city of Coral Springs. “The shooting doesn’t de-
rifles and high-capacity to 21 and to create a pro- Nikolas Cruz, managed to Among items requested fine us,” he said. “We’re re-
magazines at all of its stores gram allowing teachers to slip through local law en- from the school were doc- ally moving past it and try-
and ban the sale of all carry concealed weapons forcement despite previous uments on a mentoring ing to heal right now.”q
Worshippers clutching AR-15 rifles hold commitment ceremony

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM white and grooms in dark school massacre on Feb. critics regard as a cult. The tuary’s director of world
Associated Press suits brought dozens of un- 14. The Rev. Sean Moon, younger Moon’s congrega- missions, said the cere-
NEWFOUNDLAND, Pa. (AP) loaded AR-15s into World who leads the church, tion is a breakaway faction mony was meant to be a
— Crown-wearing worship- Peace and Unification prayed for “a kingdom of of the Unification Church, blessing of couples, not “in-
pers clutching AR-15 rifles Sanctuary for a religious peace police and peace which had distanced itself animate objects,” calling
drank holy wine and ex- event that doubled as an militia where the citizens, from Wednesday’s event. the AR-15 a “religious ac-
changed or renewed wed- advertisement for the Sec- through the right given to An attendant checked coutrement.” But Wednes-
ding vows in a commitment ond Amendment. them by almighty God to each weapon at the door day’s event, coming on
ceremony at a Pennsylva- The church, which has a keep and bear arms, will to make sure it was un- the heels of the high school
nia church on Wednesday, worldwide following, be- be able to protect one an- loaded and secured with massacre in Parkland, Flori-
prompting a nearby school lieves the AR-15 symbolizes other and protect human a zip tie, and the elaborate da, which killed 17, rubbed
to cancel classes. the “rod of iron” in the book flourishing.” Moon is the son commitment ceremony emotions raw. “It’s scaring
With state police and a of Revelation, and encour- of the late Rev. Sun Myung went off without a hitch. people in the community,”
smattering of protesters aged couples to bring the Moon, a self-proclaimed Some worshippers wore one protester told a church
standing watch outside weapons. An AR-15 was messiah who founded the crowns made out of bullets. member. “Are you aware
the church, brides clad in used in the Florida high Unification Church, which Tim Elder, Unification Sanc- of that?” q