A lawmaker criticized by school shooting victims for his comments at a memorial event isn’t backing down.
Students at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado walked out of vigil planned by a gun control group saying the activists and Sen. Michael Bennett and Rep. Jason Crow, both Democrats, had politicized Tuesday’s tragic incident.
In a statement, Crow explained it is his job to bring solutions to solve challenging issues.
“It is my job to show up and support my community during times of tragedy. I grieve for what Highlands Ranch and our families have been through. The last few days I have been asked the same question over and over again: What are you doing to stop this from happening?” the Colorado lawmaker said.
“It is my job to take tough questions and offer real solutions. Bottom line, everyone needs to listen to those most impacted by this violence to learn how we can move forward, and that begins with listening to the students of STEM School,” he said.
On the day of the shooting, Crow tweeted, “It is not enough to send thoughts and prayers,” and, “We must pass common-sense gun violence laws and ensure we are preparing our educators and law enforcement with the tools and resources necessary to create a safe and welcoming environment.”
We must pass common-sense gun violence laws and ensure we are preparing our educators and law enforcement with the tools and resources necessary to create a safe and welcoming environment. This must stop.
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) May 7, 2019
The event was organized by Team ENOUGH, part of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and also featured speakers from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Students walked out of the event, hosted their own impromptu vigil, and chanted “Mental health!”
Powerful moment when STEM School kids spontaneously started shouting, “mental health! Mental health!“ Anguish at adults not recognizing their pain and the pain of their classmates. #stemschoolshooting pic.twitter.com/8U0lAfh64o
— Jenny Brundin (@CPRBrundin) May 9, 2019
The Brady Campaign has issued an apology: “We are deeply sorry any part of this vigil did not provide the support, caring and sense of community we sought to foster and facilitate and which we know is crucial to communities who suffer the trauma of gun violence.”
Students Kendrick Castillo and Brendan Bialy had rushed the shooter in an attempt to disarm him during the incident at the K-12 charter school. Castillo was shot and later died of his injuries. Eight other students were also wounded in the attack.
