On Feb. 14, 2018 a Florida high schooler named Nicolas Cruz entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an illegally possessed AR-15 rifle. Cruz opened fire inside the building, killing 17 people, and injuring another 17. Cruz was caught just minutes after his attack at a McDonalds nearby and was brought into custody to await his trial.

Cruz’s attack devasted the community, and left victims’ families heartbroken and grieving. Many of the Parkland shooting survivors went on to protest against gun laws and gun violence in order to spread awareness and prevent more events like this from happening.

In recent news, the jury on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School case, has suggested Nikolas Cruz serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, many state officials and parents are unhappy with this verdict. Rather than sentencing Cruz with prison time, people objecting the current suggestion are fighting for the death penalty.

“Massacring those students with premeditation and utter disregard for basic humanity, deserves the death penalty,” Governor Rick DeSantis said to the media.

Parents and family members of the victims have come out to voice their frustration and anger with the verdict. Alyssa Alhadeff, a parent of one of the Parkland victims voiced their opinion saying they were disgusted that the killer of their daughter was shown mercy.

In court, a change of verdict continues to be argued for. “It was goal directed, it was calculated, it was purposeful, and it was a systematic massacre” attorney Mike Satz said in court.

Preventing School Shootings

In most cases of school shootings, there’s always someone saying, “I thought they were joking,” in the aftermath. As the years go by, school shootings have increased in severity and frequency. Despite already being one of the most devastating events to occur, the issue grows worse. It’s important that all steps towards prevention are taken. No matter what you believe is a joke or not, if you see something, say something.