The Craven County Democratic Party has issued the following statement in response to the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida:

Like so many others in North Carolina and across the country, we in the Craven County Democratic Party are shaken and grieving after yet another school shooting took the lives of 17 innocent people, and left so many more with physical and emotional injuries that may never heal. All of the victims in Parkland, Florida and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers as we mourn with them and offer our sincerest condolences.

We also salute the educators who helped usher students to safety, putting their lives on the line for the sake of the kids they care so much about — including at least one who paid the ultimate price. We must not and shall not forget their courage and devotion in the face of mortal danger.

Yesterday’s shooting in Florida was the 18th school shooting in the United States since January 1, 2018. This cannot continue.

We call on our lawmakers, both in Raleigh and in Washington, to enact common-sense gun reforms like universal background checks that have overwhelming support among Americans from across the political spectrum, including from the vast majority of gun owners.

Our children deserve to feel safe when they go to school. If our lawmakers won’t do something to solve our nation’s gun violence problem, we at the Craven County Democratic Party will work tirelessly to replace them with people who will.

To contact us about this statement, use our contact form or email info@cravendemocrats.org.