Florida shooting: Parkland school students take Tomi Lahren to task over view on gun control
Conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren has been taken to task by students at the Parkland, Florida high school where 17 people were killed.
Ms Lahren tweeted in the wake of the mass shooting: “Can the Left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and anti-gunowner agenda? My goodness. This isn't about a gun it's about another lunatic."
Teenagers from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School responded to Ms Lahren: "This IS about guns,” wrote one student named Carly.
Ms Lahren has been known for controversy over her conservative opinions, often supporting the Republican party and US President Donald Trump.
She felt it was too soon to discuss gun control issues, but the US has had 18 mass shootings in 2018 alone.
In his speech after the shooting, Mr Trump expressed his condolences but did not discuss gun control legislation - only the mental health issues of the suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at the school.
Carly shared her perspective on Twitter: "I was hiding in a closet for 2 hours. It was about guns. You weren't there, you don't know how it felt."
"Guns give these disgusting people the ability to kill other human beings. This IS about guns and this is about all the people who had their life abruptly ended because of guns,” she added.
I was hiding in a closet for 2 hours. It was about guns. You weren't there, you don't know how it felt. Guns give these disgusting people the ability to kill other human beings. This IS about guns and this is about all the people who had their life abruptly ended because of guns. https://t.co/XnzhvuN1zd
— carly (@car_nove) February 15, 2018
Another student, Kyra, also responded to Ms Lahren and wrote: “My entire school, traumatized from this tragedy. This could have been prevented.”
A gun has killed 17 of my fellow classmates. A gun has traumatized my friends. My entire school, traumatized from this tragedy. This could have been prevented. Please stfu tomi https://t.co/qNo03ZE3Ev
— kyra (@longlivekcx) February 15, 2018
Sarah, another student, actually responded to Mr Trump’s tweet, saying “I don’t want your condolences...Do something instead of sending your prayers.”
She appeared to have deleted her tweet and apologised for her use of profanity but later wrote separately: “I’m thankful for everyone’s thoughts and condolences, but please take your anger and sorrowfulness and direct it towards congress.”
I’m thankful for everyone’s thoughts and condolences, but please take your anger and sorrowfulness and direct it towards congress and law makers. Please call, email, write, etc... to our lawmakers and beg them to make a change. What happened yesterday should never happen again.
— sarah // NEVER AGAIN (@sarahchad_) February 16, 2018
Several Democrats in Congress have been criticising Republicans for their lack of action on gun control reform in the wake of every mass shooting in recent years - from the 2014 tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut where 20 children aged six to seven years old and six adults were killed to the Las Vegas massacre when a gunman killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 music festival attendees.
The National Rifle Association is a large contributor to Republicans in Congress, particularly House Speaker Paul Ryan, but also spent upwards of $54m in the 2016 election against political candidates who did not support the powerful gun owner membership organisation.
Mr Cruz is being held in jail without bond.
