In the News

You'd have to be heartless not to be emotionally affected by the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

While back in the 19th Congressional District, and just after meeting with happy cotton growers at the Texas Farm-Ranch-Wildlife Expo, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington stopped by the Reporter-News. His mood darkened when our discussion turned to the school shooting that killed 17 and wounded many more.

"You have to weep for their families," he said.

But what can we do, congressman? The usual arguments have begun but Arrington, a supporter of the Second Amendment, wasn't about to take fire from critics demanding stricter gun laws.

Arrington said the system failed, comparing the Parkland shooting to that in Sutherland Springs, where 26 were gunned down at a Sunday morning church service.

Information was available, he said, to prevent that tragedy.

Red flags were raised, too, about the shooter in Florida.

Tragically, in Texas, law enforcement did not know of the shooter's violent history while he was in the Air Force. In Florida, law enforcement stumbled when given tips about the 19-year-old's threats of violence. And then, when the shooting started, a school resource officer did not intervene.

Prevention measures were in place but failed in each case, said Arrington, who does not support tighter gun laws.

No gun law or gun-free zone is going to stop someone bent on mass violence, he said.

"We cannot disarm the good guys," he said.

Arrington is a proponent of armed defense at the school. He envisions law-abiding, licensed and trained school personnel — teachers, administrators and coaches — as a more widespread line of defense on campus.

Some Texas school districts allow personnel to carry concealed weapons.

Meanwhile, a societal shift is needed. Violent video games, TV shows and movies glorify use of force.

"It's everywhere," he said. "They are a root cause."

As for banning assault-style weapons, Arrington doesn't want to go there. He aims at other mass killings that involved handguns, vehicles and knives. And we remember that in 2001, airliners were used for the same purpose.

Where do we begin and where do we stop limiting the firepower of a gun, he asks.

"I am not convinced gun control is the answer," he said. "The reality is we live in a fallen world."

"Plugging the holes" in the enforcement and accountability of existing laws is more the answer, he said.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas promoted women's suffrage and defended the Everglades from those who wanted to drain and develop it.

How sad she would be to know a high school honoring her was so defenseless, unnecessarily, in its time of need.