Wasserman Schultz Marks Two Years Since Marjory Stoneman Douglas Tragedy

Washington, February 14, 2020 Two years ago, our community suffered a loss no one should be forced to bear when an armed gunman took seventeen lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Fourteen of the innocent lives taken that day were students, lost to us as children on the precipice of their young adulthood. Even with time, the shock, sorrow, and pain felt from this devastating loss still remains fresh.Two years ago, our community suffered a loss no one should be forced to bear when an armed gunman took seventeen lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Fourteen of the innocent lives taken that day were students, lost to us as children on the precipice of their young adulthood. Even with time, the shock, sorrow, and pain felt from this devastating loss still remains fresh.

So today, as we remember the victims and console our community and those personally touched by this tragedy, we must reaffirm our commitment that this loss will not be in vain, and work to ensure that a new normal does not set in where students must always fear the threat of gun violence. We owe it to the victims to demand swift, immediate action to end this epidemic of violence. That includes demanding Senate Leader McConnell and that Republican-controlled chamber do their job and pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, two bills that would clearly save lives and were passed by the House of Representatives nearly a year ago.

Inaction is inexcusable. For Parkland, for Orlando, for El Paso, and for Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, and especially for all those communities enduring the pain of daily gun violence which never makes the news, we continue this fight.