Gun Conspiracy Posts Were To Stir Pot: Toms River Board Member

TOMS RIVER, NJ — As the debate over gun control continues to burn hot a week after a mass shooting at a Florida high school, conspiracy theories about the events and the survivors have begun to take of like wildfire across the internet.

Among them: claims that David Hogg, one of the students at the Parkland high school who have been urging tighter restrictions on gun ownership, was a crisis actor and not a real student.

Toms River Regional Board of Education member Dan Leonard calls those claims nonsense.

"People are nuts," Leonard said Wednesday morning, when asked about postings he made on Facebook sharing links to stories that claimed Hogg is, among other things, a crisis actor hired to stir up anti-gun sentiments. Stories sprouted on sites known for sharing conspiracy theories, including Alex Jones's InfoWars site, which pushed conspiracy theories claiming the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012 was faked.

The postings, shared with Patch by a resident who saw them, included links to a video and to a story from Gateway Pundit, a site that posts stories ardently supporting President Donald Trump, questioning Hogg's identity. Leonard also included a link to a CNN report debunking the crisis actor claiims.

Leonard, an independent who represents Beachwood on the school board, said he shared the links because that's what he does.

"I share all kinds of crazy stuff," Leonard said. "Just because I share a link doesn't mean I endorse it."

Jones, he said, "is a nutjob."

"The problem is you can post any BS fake news and (too many people) believe it," Leonard said, citing a Facebook post that made the rounds last summer claiming a great white shark had attacked someone at Island Beach State Park.

Hogg was the Parkland student mentioned Monday by Toms River North junior Zach Dougherty, who organized the student rally at the Ocean County Library to protest gun violence and demand reform. Dougherty said he spoke with Hogg and asked what he could to do help support the Parkland students, and Hogg's reply was to organize and speak out.

Leonard, who has been on leave from the school board, said he is returning for Wednesday night's board meeting because of the budget discussions and because of the school security discussions in the district. "I can't not be there," he said.

Leonard said he hoped people who are friends with him realize and understand he is not endorsing the conspiracy theories about Hogg or the other Parkland students.

"Everything I do in my life is counter to that," Leonard said. His wife, Michelle, operates a business called Live Positive Now, which promotes the Soulsational Festival in Berkeley Township, among other things. He added a disclaimer to the post late Wednesday morning in response to the questions, to make his feelings clear.

"I don't believe he is a Crisis Actor," Leonard wrote in the post about Hogg. "I do believe he was not a Trump fan prior to the shooting and that the NRA/FakeNews Lobby have twisted all of this much like they did at Sandy Hook ...... If my sarcastic and cynical page is too deep for you I suggest you delete me."

Leonard, a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan and who makes no bones about his support for Trump, also shared his thoughts on gun violence and gun control issues.

"I don't believe any 18- or 20-year-old should be able to buy a gun," Leonard said. "Nobody needs a bump stock and nobody needs a 30-round magazine."

Realistic gun education is necessary, he said. Current gun education is insufficient. "No state has the proper training," he said.

Leonard said that while he would like to have the ability to carry a sidearm in New Jersey, he has been having second thoughts about the proposed national concealed carry reciprocity. A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Tom MacArthur and more than 200 other members of the House would allow someone who has a permit to carry a concealed firearm to carry it in other states. Proponents say the law is necessary because of the myriad of state laws that are confusing and lead to prosecution of people who lawfully obtained their guns. Opponents say the law would allow people who buy guns in states with weaker firearms restrictions to circumvent states with tougher laws.

"Under that (the concealed carry reciprocity), the kid in Florida would have been able to come up here with a weapon that isn't legal here," Leonard said. "This would negate our protective measures across our municipalities."

That said, Leonard said he wishes he could carry a firearm. "The criminals are always going to have guns," he said.

"I know that I have the training to be able to handle a situation," Leonard said. "I would like to be able to defend others as well as myself."

Photo of Dan Leonard via Toms River Regional School District website