Gottheimer Commemorates Lives Lost Two Years Ago in Parkland Tragedy, Calls for Action to Keep Students Safe in School

Above: Gottheimer stands with Students Demand Action and North Jersey leaders to remember the victims of the Parkland tragedy which took place two years ago this week.

On Sunday, February 9, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in a vigil to remember the victims — fourteen students and three faculty — of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida. Gottheimer pushed for the Senate to act on legislation passed by the House nearly a year ago to require background checks and close loopholes. Gottheimer also highlighted his bipartisan ALYSSA Act, named after a victim of the Parkland tragedy, to keep students and faculty safe in schools nationwide.  

Gottheimer stood alongside Students Demand Action, Moms Demand Action, and the Brady Campaign to call for action to protect North Jersey students from gun violence.

“We’re here today to look back almost two years ago at a tragedy that took children, students, teachers, parents, and loved ones away from us forever — a shooting that will be remembered as the deadliest high school shooting in our nation’s history,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The best way we can keep students safe is to finally pass legislation to help keep guns out of the hands of those who would come through a school’s front doors with a weapon fit for war. It’s time we doubled down on this fight in the halls of Congress, put aside the partisan name calling, and actually got this done. Enough excuses; it’s time to act.”

Gottheimer continued, “The time to come together, like we’re doing here this evening, is now. And I really commend you for caring. Together, with the advocacy of Students Demand Action, the bravery of our local law enforcement, our local leaders, and with the safety of our children as our top priority, I know that here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.”

Gottheimer has called for the Senate to finally bring two important safety measures to the floor that the House sent over 347 days ago: H.R. 8, which requires a background check on every gun sale or transfer; and H.R. 1112, which closes the Charleston Loophole that allows a firearm sale to proceed even if the FBI has not yet completed a background check.

This Congress, Gottheimer announced the bipartisan ALYSSA Act — the Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in Schools Safety Alert Act, named after Fifth District native and Parkland, Florida, victim Alyssa Alhadeff, which will bring New Jersey’s state Alyssa’s Law to the national level by requiring all public schools to install silent panic alarms connected to local law enforcement. Gottheimer’s ALYSSA Act will also ensure every school has access to School Resource Officers, so schools have a well-trained first responder on already on campus in the event of a critical incident.

Below: Gottheimer speaks at a vigil today to remember the victims of the Parkland tragedy.

Below: Gottheimer stands with Students Demand Action at today’s vigil.

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