Councilman Bauman's Statement On Florida Shooting

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Sandy Springs City Council Member Andy Bauman released a statement Thursday on the tragic and horrific school shooting that took place Wednesday, Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla.

From Councilman Andy Bauman:

Yesterday’s devastating news of yet another (the 18th this year) school shooting overwhelms me with grief and anger. Seeing student-taken video of the shooting – and hearing the deafening sound of those AR-15 bullets being fired in rapid succession – should haunt us all. Like so many of you who receive my emails, I have two children in high school, and each and every day when I watch them drive off to school, I am left thinking, “there but for the Grace of God…”.

There are many Atlanta connections with families directly impacted by this unspeakable tragedy, including the loss of Alyssa Alhadeff, who was gunned down yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Alyssa had been a camper at Camp Coleman in the North Georgia Mountains, and was known to many in our community. My heart goes out to all who knew Alyssa and her family, and all others who have been devastated by this barbaric act.

In my humble view, now is exactly the time to have discussion and take action on the many complex policy questions related to the uniquely American epidemic of gun violence and deaths. These include not just rational (and overwhelmingly popular) gun safety laws and regulations, but also issues relating to mental health and suicide (especially among the ranks of Veterans), drug addiction, domestic abuse, social media awareness and more.

I am just a local elected official in a temporary job. But as such, I feel it is my moral obligation to do all that I can – and we as responsible citizens must hold our elected officials and community leaders accountable to do all that they can – to stem this epidemic of violence. At the local, state and federal levels, I encourage you to get involved: call, write and email your elected officials. Demand that we/they take action on these issues. Now is exactly the time. If not now, then when?

In the aftermath of this tragedy we are already hearing the heroic stories of teachers and students who stood between the killer’s bullets and their friends and colleagues at the school. We also watched video of first responders doing what they do, heading directly into life-threatening danger. As we remember those who lost their lives, and honor those who risked their lives, let us come together in our grief – and anger – and do all we can to protect our children, and ourselves, from these unspeakable and tragic events.

Article image via Sandy Springs website