After news broke Thursday that an armed Broward County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida stood outside the building for a solid four minutes and did nothing while a deranged killer murdered 17 people inside, the internet exploded with calls for Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel – who’d previously blamed the NRA for the murders during a CNN town hall Wednesday – to resign.
NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, who had found herself on stage being blamed by Israel for being complicit in murder simply for being a gun rights advocate, blasted the sheriff for his department's multiple failings leading up to the shooting.
You didn’t stand up for them when they repeatedly reported that this murderer was threatening them in messages that violated FL law, his parents reported he “held a gun to others’ heads;” 39 visits and 2 FBI reports and NOTHING. It’s literally your job. Not mine. https://t.co/KjQhfvQc2N
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) February 23, 2018
Loesch's sentiments were echoed across conservative Twitter with calls for the sheriff to immediately resign.
If the Broward County Sheriff had any integrity he would resign tonight. But then if he had any integrity he wouldn't have gone on the CNN town hall last night to blame the NRA as he sat on evidence that the incompetence and cowardice of his own ppl let the shooting happen.
— Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) February 23, 2018
Democrat Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel needs to resign immediately.
— Ryan Saavedra 🇺🇸 (@RealSaavedra) February 23, 2018
It sounds like Broward County Sheriff #ScottIsrael needs to resign
— Carl Jackson (@carljacksonshow) February 23, 2018
Broward county sheriff sat on the sidelines when all the signs and warnings came in that could have prevented it when is he going to resign?
— Bear (@Sleepyfloyd1031) February 23, 2018
So the Broward County Sheriff knew his officer froze before the Town Hall farce. He went on national TV and stayed silent and then blamed the NRA. He is a despicable tool and should resign today.
— David Cowling (@davidrcowling) February 23, 2018
Why hasn't the Broward County Sheriff resigned yet? https://t.co/YfYR3koZ3R
— Sam Dallas (@ArlingtonSamDal) February 23, 2018
YOU! Broward county sheriff's office is a complete failure! If anyone has integrity at your office you'd quit and never put that job on your resume.
— Lisa Key-Matthews (@lisakeymatthews) February 23, 2018
Scot Peterson, the officer on duty at the school that day, has resigned and his home is being guarded by six armed guards, local reports say.
The list of failures by government agencies including the Broward County Sheriff’s office that led to last Wednesday’s shooting are piling up almost too quickly to count. While the FBI failed to follow up on numerous tips regarding the gunman’s threat to shoot up a school, Broward County law enforcement had visited the 19-year-old’s home a whopping 39 times in response to reports of violence and threats, ultimately doing nothing. The gunman had reportedly brought knives and bullets to school, assaulted a parent, assaulted other students and made a slew of online threats about shooting up a school, even expressing a desire to be a “professional school shooter.”
The Broward County Sheriff’s office received at least 18 calls between 2008 and 2017 from concerned residents regarding the future gunman’s erratic behavior and threats, including at least five that mentioned he had weapons.
Even as the shooter went on a rampage throughout the school, an armed and trained sheriff's deputy stood outside the building and did not enter to confront the killer.
And yet somehow, amidst all these government failings, the NRA and its 5 million law-abiding gun owners, who had nothing to do with the incident, have found themselves on the receiving end of the blame.