SURVIVORS of the Florida school shooting have described the state Legislature’s decision to reject a ban on assault rifles as “heartbreaking”.
Around 100 pupils travelled seven hours by bus to the state Capitol yesterday to urge politicians to prevent another massacre.
Within hours, however, the Legislature had effectively halted any possibility of banning assault rifles like the AR-15 that was wielded by the suspect, Nickolas Cruz, in the attack.
A Democratic representative asked for a procedural move that would have allowed the Republican-controlled House to consider a ban on large-capacity magazines and assault rifles.
The House quickly snuffed out the Democratic motion. The vote broke down along party lines, and Republicans criticised Democrats for forcing the vote.
“No-one with the slightest little hint of a soul isn’t moved by this tragedy,” Republican strategist Rick Wilson said. “The discussion has to be a longer, bigger and broader discussion.”
Lizzie Eaton, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, spent the day lobbying senators of both parties and concluded that politicians were “just not listening to us”.
The vote was “heartbreaking,” she said. “But we’re not going to stop.”
Donald Trump has so far responded by directing the justice department to consider a ban on devices like the rapid-fire bump stocks used in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.
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