Hugs, tears and police: Excessive college reopens after shooting

PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — College students and lecturers hugged and cried Wednesday as they returned beneath heavy police guard to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive for the first time since a teenager with an assault rifle killed 17 of us and thrust the substantial Florida college into the center of a renewed nationwide gun debate.

The half-day started with fourth duration in allege that the nearly Three,300 students could well perchance first be with the of us they were with throughout the shooting two weeks up to now.

« In the starting, every person turn out to be once wise serious, but then every person cheered up and it started being the equivalent vibes we had sooner than the shooting. Of us started laughing and joking around, » stated Kyle Kashuv, a junior who stated he hugged each trainer.

On the manner in, children were guarded by a entire bunch of police officers. The police were accompanied by consolation animals, along side canine, horses and a donkey. One of many horses had « eagle pride » painted on its aspect. An in depth by girl held a signal offering « free kisses. »

After college brushed aside, contributors of the Guardian Angels sporting their trademark red berets lined the streets at a crosswalk.

Kashuv stated he turn out to be once amazed by the outpouring of toughen from the community, along side the police presence, the animals and loads of properly-wishers. There were letters from all the way thru the enviornment and « banners on each wall, » he stated.

Among the most officers carried navy-trend rifles, and Superintendent Robert Runcie stated the police presence would continue for the remainder of the college year. The heavy fingers rattled some students.

« Right here is a image of education in apprehension on this country. » The Nationwide Rifle Association « wants more of us steady cherish this, with that particular person firearm, to grief more of us and promote more weapons, » stated David Hogg, who has became a main bid in the pupil motion to limit assault weapons.

A few hundred and fifty grief counselors were on campus « to produce pretty plenty of worship, pretty plenty of working out » and to lend a hand students « ease support » into their college routines, Runcie stated.

The freshman building where the Feb. 14 massacre took situation remained cordoned off.

College students were told leave their backpacks at home. Well-known Ty Thomas tweeted that the college’s focal point will doubtless be on « emotional readiness and consolation, not curriculum. »

In each and every lecture room, colored pencils, coloring books, stress balls and toys were accessible to lend a hand students cope.

« Or not it is not the manner you streak down. Or not it is some distance the manner you procure support up, » stated Casey Sherman, a 17-year-passe junior. She stated she turn out to be once not troubled to be return, « steady nervous. »

Many students stated the talk over fresh gun regulations helped them job the traumatic event and prepared them to approach support.

Alexis Grogan, a 15-year-passe sophomore, turn out to be once alive to that it will doubtless be too rapidly to head on as frequent without slain friends comparable to Luke Hoyer, who sat two seats in the support of her in Spanish class.

« Seeing every person turn out to be once correct, but emotionally I turn out to be once in shambles. I doubtlessly broke down into tears 10-plus cases and needed to dawdle out of my classes a couple of cases throughout the day, » she stated.

As classes resumed, Dick’s Carrying Items, a major U.S. retailer, announced that it could perchance well perchance straight terminate gross sales of assault-trend rifles and excessive-ability magazines at all of its retail outlets and ban the sale of all weapons to somebody beneath 21. The firm’s CEO took on the NRA by tense more difficult gun regulations.

At the Florida Capitol, a Residence committee voted Tuesday in prefer of a bill to obtain the minimal age to purchase prolonged weapons from 18 to 21 and to compose a program allowing lecturers to lift hid weapons in college rooms if their college district permits it. Those lecturers would receive law-enforcement coaching and procure deputized by the native sheriff’s situation of job.

Convey lawmakers persevered their investigation of how the suspected shooter, Nikolas Cruz, managed to mosey thru native law enforcement despite old warning indicators.

The Florida Residence voted Wednesday to subpoena records from Broward County and the college board, moreover sheriff’s offices in Broward and Palm Shoreline counties and the city of Coral Springs. Among items requested from the college were paperwork on a mentoring program geared toward choices to the juvenile justice plan. Critics have urged this technique ended in lenience for Cruz, however the superintendent stated Wednesday that the suspect turn out to be once never turn out to be once portion of this technique.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott stated he hopes a gun and college-security bill is handed sooner than the annual legislative session ends March 9. The measures he proposed did not consist of arming lecturers, but he declined to tell Tuesday whether he would veto a sweeping equipment that capabilities that provision.

The Broward superintendent has spoken out against the root of arming lecturers.

Marion Hammer, a lobbyist for the Nationwide Rifle Association and Unified Sportsmen of Florida, stated she helps college security and keeping weapons out of the fingers of the mentally in unhappy health, but « weapons are doubtless to be not the disaster. »

Kashuv stated he turn out to be once most moved by a tattoo his trainer got that stated « MSD Well-known » with a giant eagle.

« The shooting would not make clear us, » he stated. « We’re actually transferring past it and making an strive to heal correct now. »

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Associated Press writers Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Florida, and Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this document. Video journalist Robert Ray also contributed.

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Follow the AP’s full coverage of the Florida college shooting here: https://apnews.com/tag/Floridaschoolshooting .