CNN Town Hall

On February 21, 2018, survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting gathered at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida to debate with Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson about whether or not they would support the ban of assault rifles. High school students and the grieving parents of deceased victims took this opportunity to unleash their frustration and anger on lawmakers who have the ability to implement safer laws.

One father who lost his teenage daughter in the shooting confronted Marco Rubio and described his comments about the massacre as “pathetically weak”. The father also told Rubio: “Look at me and tell me guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids in the school this week.” Rubio proceeded to answer by replying, “I’m saying that the problems we are facing here today cannot be solved by gun laws alone.” However, they are “absolutely” the factor of the massacre that took place at Stoneman Douglas.   

The National Rifle Association spokeswoman told the audience that the system to purchase firearms is flawed. She also voiced that she was fighting for the victims and that those who shouldn’t have the ability to own firearms should be reported to a national background check system. Emma Gonzalez, a student at the high school, asked the spokeswoman about what the NRA’s position was on bump stocks and making it harder for civilians to purchase assault rifles. The spokeswoman replied by saying that the NRA is waiting on the Justice Department to make a ruling on bump stocks. Cameron Kasky, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, asked Marco Rubio to decline contributions from the NRA (National Rifle Association). Rubio asserts that he accepts the support from organizations that agree with his agenda and said that: “They buy into [his] ideas, [he doesn’t] buy into theirs.” However, “[he] can pledge that [he] would support any law that would prevent a killer like this from getting a gun.” In short, Rubio’s argument is that the problem does not lie on the acceptance of contributions, but in the way firearms are obtained.