Gun Control Not ‘Achievable Right Now’: Parkland Victim’s Father Demands Lawmakers Act on School Safety

Monica Sanchez | March 5, 2018
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Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow who was killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting, says that gun control is not “achievable right now” and argues that legislators should be “productive” and focus their efforts on practical solutions, such as school safety measures and mental health programs.  

"I'm about being productive and doing something that's achievable right now,” he said in an interview with Fox News on Monday. “And what's achievable is everyone getting together and making our schools safe."

Pollack called on Florida lawmakers to pass Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s bill on the floor right now, which he said has “everything … that a parent would want.”

The bill “includes provisions to boost school security, establish new mental health programs in schools, and improve communication between schools, law enforcement and state agencies,” reports the Associated Press.

The bill also proposes raising the minimum age to purchase a rifle from 18 to 21 and would allow police officers to confiscate weapons from a person taken in under Florida’s Baker Act for an emergency or involuntary psychiatric examination.

Pollack said if the bill’s measures were in place before the shooting, his daughter “100 percent” would not have lost her life that day.

He noted that the 16 other Parkland families who lost loved ones in the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School also favor the bill and that he's in Tallahassee this week representing them. 

"If I can't get it done, there's something wrong," said Pollack, adding that any lawmakers who oppose the bill “oppose making our kids safe at school.”

“I’m going to try my best. I’ve got all these people counting on me,” he said.

In an interview last week, Pollack shut down CNN for criticizing a proposed statewide program to train teachers and faculty to carry concealed weapons on school premises, MRCTV reported.

He clarified that the program is voluntary, no teachers are being enlisted or forced to do anything, and that in America, people have the freedom of choice, including the freedom to choose sending their kids to a gun-free school if they don’t like schools that allow for armed teachers.  

Gov. Scott, who opposes arming teachers, did not include such a program in his plan but did include a provision to assign at least one law enforcement officer for every 1,000 students at a school.

(Cover Photo: Screenshot) 

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