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| Trump heads to Florida as calls ring out to fix America's gun laws | Trump heads to Florida as calls ring out to fix America's gun laws |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President to visit Parkland, scene of shooting that left 17 dead | President to visit Parkland, scene of shooting that left 17 dead |
| Suspect Nikolas Cruz allegedly fired more than 150 rounds | Suspect Nikolas Cruz allegedly fired more than 150 rounds |
| Richard Luscombe in Parkland and | Richard Luscombe in Parkland and |
| Lois Beckett in New York | Lois Beckett in New York |
| Fri 16 Feb 2018 17.11 GMT | Fri 16 Feb 2018 17.11 GMT |
| Last modified on Fri 16 Feb 2018 17.44 GMT | |
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| Donald Trump was heading for the scene of America’s latest horrifying school shooting late on Friday, amid mounting anger within the town and beyond about political inaction on gun control. | Donald Trump was heading for the scene of America’s latest horrifying school shooting late on Friday, amid mounting anger within the town and beyond about political inaction on gun control. |
| Trump said on Twitter: “I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth – but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts.” | Trump said on Twitter: “I will be leaving for Florida today to meet with some of the bravest people on earth – but people whose lives have been totally shattered. Am also working with Congress on many fronts.” |
| As Parkland began the distressing process of staging funerals for the 17 students and teachers killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, grief in the community was already giving way to anger and renewed calls to change the nation’s gun control laws. | As Parkland began the distressing process of staging funerals for the 17 students and teachers killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, grief in the community was already giving way to anger and renewed calls to change the nation’s gun control laws. |
| The new mood of determination was set by Scott Israel, the sheriff of Broward County, who spoke out at an emotional candlelit vigil on Thursday night for those killed on Wednesday. Police said the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student of the high school, used an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle to carry out the attack. | The new mood of determination was set by Scott Israel, the sheriff of Broward County, who spoke out at an emotional candlelit vigil on Thursday night for those killed on Wednesday. Police said the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student of the high school, used an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle to carry out the attack. |
| “If you’re an elected official, and you want to keep things the way they are, and not do things differently, if you want to keep the gun laws as they are now, you will not get re-elected in Broward County,” Israel told about 8,000 mourners at Pine Trails park, less than two miles from the scene of Wednesday’s shooting. | “If you’re an elected official, and you want to keep things the way they are, and not do things differently, if you want to keep the gun laws as they are now, you will not get re-elected in Broward County,” Israel told about 8,000 mourners at Pine Trails park, less than two miles from the scene of Wednesday’s shooting. |
| It emerged on Friday that Cruz, who legally bought the rifle and ammunition he used in the shooting at a tactical supply store in Coral Springs after passing a cursory background check, allegedly fired more than 150 rounds at the school, and abandoned many dozens of unspent rounds. | It emerged on Friday that Cruz, who legally bought the rifle and ammunition he used in the shooting at a tactical supply store in Coral Springs after passing a cursory background check, allegedly fired more than 150 rounds at the school, and abandoned many dozens of unspent rounds. |
| As the grimly familiar search unfolded for answers to explain the motive, a picture emerged of Cruz as a deeply troubled 19-year-old who displayed aspects of autism, according to his defense team. | As the grimly familiar search unfolded for answers to explain the motive, a picture emerged of Cruz as a deeply troubled 19-year-old who displayed aspects of autism, according to his defense team. |
| Adopted aged two, he had been devastated by the death of his adoptive mother Lynda last November, his lawyers said. “He was just lost after that,” said Gordon Weekes, one of his public defenders. | Adopted aged two, he had been devastated by the death of his adoptive mother Lynda last November, his lawyers said. “He was just lost after that,” said Gordon Weekes, one of his public defenders. |
| Neighbors and school peers recall Cruz’s erratic behavior and frequent contact with the law. Police records obtained by CNN show that officers were called to his house 39 times over seven years. | Neighbors and school peers recall Cruz’s erratic behavior and frequent contact with the law. Police records obtained by CNN show that officers were called to his house 39 times over seven years. |
| In that time, Cruz became known as a teenager who liked to hurt animals. He used a BB gun to shoot squirrels, frogs, even neighbours’ chickens. | In that time, Cruz became known as a teenager who liked to hurt animals. He used a BB gun to shoot squirrels, frogs, even neighbours’ chickens. |
| His other obsession was guns. The AR-15 was kept in a gun box in his bedroom, and he had a collection of air rifles which he displayed on his bed on Instagram. | His other obsession was guns. The AR-15 was kept in a gun box in his bedroom, and he had a collection of air rifles which he displayed on his bed on Instagram. |
| A YouTube post from a user named Nikolas Cruz last year saying “I’m going to be a professional school shooter” was investigated by the FBI without result. Despite all these warning signs, he was able to legally buy his AR-15 in a gun shop. | A YouTube post from a user named Nikolas Cruz last year saying “I’m going to be a professional school shooter” was investigated by the FBI without result. Despite all these warning signs, he was able to legally buy his AR-15 in a gun shop. |
| There have been eight shootings at US schools this year that resulted in injury or death, including 17 dead on Wednesday. In December, the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting, in which 20 children and six teachers died, was marked by congressional Republicans seeking to weaken restrictions and make it easier to carry a concealed weapon across state lines. Donald Trump promised to support the National Rifle Association (NRA) and oppose limits to gun ownership. | There have been eight shootings at US schools this year that resulted in injury or death, including 17 dead on Wednesday. In December, the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting, in which 20 children and six teachers died, was marked by congressional Republicans seeking to weaken restrictions and make it easier to carry a concealed weapon across state lines. Donald Trump promised to support the National Rifle Association (NRA) and oppose limits to gun ownership. |
| 97 children have been killed and 126 injured in mass shootings in schools since 1989. These are the three worst incidents: | 97 children have been killed and 126 injured in mass shootings in schools since 1989. These are the three worst incidents: |
| 14 February 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida | 14 February 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida |
| 14 December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary, Connecticut | 14 December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary, Connecticut |
| 20 April 1999 Columbine High School, Colorado | 20 April 1999 Columbine High School, Colorado |
| In 2017, the NRA spent at least $4.1m on lobbying. In the 2016 US elections, it spent $14.4m supporting 44 candidates who won, and $34.4m opposing 19 who lost, according to CRP. But “the real source of its power comes from voters”, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA professor of constitutional law. The 145-year-old organisation claims 5 million active members and Prof Robert Spitzer of the State University of New York at Cortland said it has “a very powerful ability to mobilise a grassroots support ”. | In 2017, the NRA spent at least $4.1m on lobbying. In the 2016 US elections, it spent $14.4m supporting 44 candidates who won, and $34.4m opposing 19 who lost, according to CRP. But “the real source of its power comes from voters”, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA professor of constitutional law. The 145-year-old organisation claims 5 million active members and Prof Robert Spitzer of the State University of New York at Cortland said it has “a very powerful ability to mobilise a grassroots support ”. |
| 79%: Proportion of Americans who favour banning assault-style weapons, according to a recent poll | 79%: Proportion of Americans who favour banning assault-style weapons, according to a recent poll |
| 84%: Democratic voters who said that gun laws should be ‘a lot’ or ‘somewhat’ stricter than at present | 84%: Democratic voters who said that gun laws should be ‘a lot’ or ‘somewhat’ stricter than at present |
| 72%: Republican voters who agreed that ‘the benefits of gun ownership outweigh the risks’ | 72%: Republican voters who agreed that ‘the benefits of gun ownership outweigh the risks’ |
| Trump failed to use the word gun in his address to the nation on Thursday and in a coded message to his pro-gun supporters in the NRA, set his face against tougher background checks and a ban on assault weapons as he said: “It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make that difference.” | Trump failed to use the word gun in his address to the nation on Thursday and in a coded message to his pro-gun supporters in the NRA, set his face against tougher background checks and a ban on assault weapons as he said: “It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make that difference.” |
| In the search for basic safety measures, parents who lost their children in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook are pushing for one route through the political inertia in Washington which could help make every school in America safer. | In the search for basic safety measures, parents who lost their children in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook are pushing for one route through the political inertia in Washington which could help make every school in America safer. |
| In the five years since 20 children were murdered in the Connecticut elementary school, Mark Barden, whose son Daniel died in that shooting, has worked with a small group of other Sandy Hook families to try to change America’s reaction to the ‘red flags’, warning signs that indicate a student might be a risk. | In the five years since 20 children were murdered in the Connecticut elementary school, Mark Barden, whose son Daniel died in that shooting, has worked with a small group of other Sandy Hook families to try to change America’s reaction to the ‘red flags’, warning signs that indicate a student might be a risk. |
| Sandy Hook Promise has shared its “Know the Signs” training programs with 2.5 million students and adults, working across the country, one school district at a time, offering the training free of cost to school to educate kids and teachers about what to look for and what to do. | Sandy Hook Promise has shared its “Know the Signs” training programs with 2.5 million students and adults, working across the country, one school district at a time, offering the training free of cost to school to educate kids and teachers about what to look for and what to do. |
| Legislation brought forward by Republicans and Democrats would authorise federal funds to expand the programme. | Legislation brought forward by Republicans and Democrats would authorise federal funds to expand the programme. |
| They have already been working with some schools in Florida. | They have already been working with some schools in Florida. |
| Barden said: “We know, all too well, that this is preventable, that there were warning signs, plenty of warning signs, that were missed. There is no litany of expletive-laden rage that could adequately express the sorrow and frustration and anger and despair and defeat that I feel.” | Barden said: “We know, all too well, that this is preventable, that there were warning signs, plenty of warning signs, that were missed. There is no litany of expletive-laden rage that could adequately express the sorrow and frustration and anger and despair and defeat that I feel.” |
| Florida school shooting | Florida school shooting |
| US gun control | US gun control |
| US politics | US politics |
| news | news |
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