New Jersey Gun Advocates: More Laws Won’t Stop School Shootings

You can’t stop school shootings by going after guns... not as long as hate still burns in people’s hearts. That’s the argument from a group of New Jersey 2nd Amendment activists as they push back against calls for more gun control laws in the Garden State.

Following a wave of New Jersey student walkouts in protest of the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, gun rights advocacy group New Jersey Second Amendment Society (NJ2AS) released a statement that offered its members' “deepest condolences to the victims.”

The nonprofit said that its members mourn with all of the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and “wholeheartedly support students exercising their 1st Amendment rights." But the group also said that new gun control legislation isn't the way to stop school shootings.

“Unfortunately, this will not be the last mass shooting in America, in a school or any other soft target, and no new gun laws will prevent anyone with enough hate in their heart from committing such a crime,” the NJ2AS stated.

The group continued:

“This tragedy happened because law enforcement authorities failed to properly act on numerous incidents and public tips, in addition to bureaucrats within the education system that failed to properly address the troubled young teen. We can certainly do better to improve the existing systems in place and properly enforce gun regulations already on the books.”

In their Feb. 23 statement, the NJ2AS also took aim at media coverage of the shooting and student walkouts, as well as a general misunderstanding about the difference between automatic and semi-automatic firearms. (See video below)

• See related article: New Jersey Gun Rights Group Sues Government, Attacks Carry Law
• See related article: 2nd Amendment Advocates Blast New Jersey's 'Bump Stock' Law

NEW JERSEY SCHOOL WALKOUTS FOR PARKLAND

School walkouts in support of the Parkland victims have taken place in several New Jersey towns.

Students at West Orange High School held a walkout on Feb. 21. The students won't be disciplined for the protest, the district's superintendent stated.

• See related article: West Orange Students Hold School Walkout For Parkland Victims

About 200 students and faculty members walked out of Middletown South High School. “In the wake of recent tragedies related to school violence, we respect our students' right to express their feelings,” the district superintendent said.

• See related article: Walkout At Middletown South High School Over Gun Violence (Video)

Some students at Eastern Regional High School conducted a walkout to protest gun violence on Feb. 21, according to the Voorhees Police Department. Police responded to the scene to ensure the safety of students, staff, and public, and the walkout ended without any incidents or disruptions, authorities said.

• See related article: Walkout At Eastern Regional High School

The same day, about 200 students walked out of class at Raritan High School in Hazlet in the wake of the Florida shooting. The students were led by staff out to the school’s track, officials said.

• See related article: 200 Hazlet Students Walk Out After Florida Shooting

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