In wake of Florida school shooting, Trump calls for culture that ‘embraces the dignity of life’

By Fred Lucas | The Daily Signal

President Donald Trump, saying he will travel to Parkland, Florida, following a deadly school shooting there, vowed Thursday to meet with leaders across the country to address school safety and mental health issues.

“Our entire nation with one heavy heart is praying for the victims and their families,” Trump said from the Diplomatic Room of the White House.

At another point, the president called for an American culture that once again “embraces the dignity of life.”

Police said a former student shot and killed 17 persons Wednesday using an AR-15-style rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, injuring or wounding at least 14 others in the rampage. Parkland is in Broward County, near Fort Lauderdale.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, is in custody and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Cruz had been expelled from the high school for disciplinary reasons.

Trump didn’t mention a date for visiting Parkland, which he called a “great and safe community,” saying only that he is “making plans” to go. He said:

Each person who was stolen from us yesterday had a full life ahead of them, a life filled with wondrous beauty and unlimited potential and promise. Each one had dreams to pursue, love to give, and talents to share with the world. Each one had a family to whom they meant everything in the world.

Trump quoted a Bible passage from 2 Kings during his remarks.

“In these moments of heartache and darkness, we hold onto God’s word in scripture: ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you,’” the president said. “We trust in that promise.”

Trump spoke Wednesday to state and local authorities in Florida, and said he would meet later this month with the nation’s governors and attorneys general about better solutions to secure schools and address mental health issues.

Although Trump didn’t note a date for that meeting, the National Governors Association will hold its annual winter meeting in Washington from Feb. 23-26. A group of governors typically meets with the president during the gathering.

Trump addressed the nation’s children who must cope with the shooting, asserting:

I want to speak now directly to America’s children, especially those who feel lost, alone, confused or even scared. I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be. You have people who care about you, who love you and who will do anything at all to protect you.

If you need help, turn to a teacher, a family member, a local police officer or a faith leader. Answer hate with love. Answer cruelty with kindness.

We must also work together to create a culture in our country that embraces the dignity of life, that creates deep and meaningful human connections and turns classmates and colleagues into friends and neighbors.

 

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Public domain

2 thoughts on “In wake of Florida school shooting, Trump calls for culture that ‘embraces the dignity of life’

  1. Thoughts and prayers are offered in abundance by the politicians AFTER each one of the disasters, but where are these hypocrites when called upon to pass legislation that might eliminate the obvious
    tools which enable unstable individuals to cause these mass killings? When we stop electing and/or re-electing those who refuse to pass laws which could significantly reduce the possibility or probability that firearms will fall into the arms of those who murder the innocents over and over again, they (the politicians) might soon get the message: we won’t tolerate their continuing refusal to legislate steps to reduce the likelihood that these massive slaughters can be perpetrated! WE WANT THEM TO DO WHAT WE ELECT THEM TO DO: Protect us and our children from the evil doers! When legislators ignore their responsibility to protect us, they are just as liable for the resulting deaths as those are who actually pull the triggers. Thoughts and prayers come about too late.

  2. Another tragic event , by another insane person ……….. But again the leftist jump on the band
    wagon and can only blame the ” firearm ” but not the prepetrator ??

    We must realize that we have mentally insane running around every where , but no one knows
    who what or where these people are until some tragic event happens , why are these people
    on the loose ?? Yeah, yeah they got rights , so does every one else !!

    It looks like most people new this guy was a nut job, but he was running free ?? If you have a
    mad dog or any animal you cage it or euthanize it ………. This guys an Animal !!!!

    Gun free zones , Mass shootings ……… see anything in common ?????? Secure our schools
    many law abiding gun owners are willing to stand guard, all you need to do is ask , but it won’t
    work if it’s a gun free zone ……………………. wake up America !!

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