According to OpenSecrets.org, the NRA and the PACs it controls donated less than $1 million to Florida candidates for Federal office in the 2016 election cycle. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000082&type=P&... Marco Rubio, the top recipient, received less than $10,000 from the NRA. The NRA's influence lies in its ability to persuade its members to vote for pro-2nd Amendment candidates, generally, Republicans. In his 2016 race for president, Rubio's big money came from a billionaire hedge fund manager and a billionaire retired car salesman. As best as I can determine, neither donor cared much about gun control. Their interests were (1) tax cuts and (2) aid to Israel. Our Federal elections have been corrupted by big money.
10
If a gunman with an AR15 made his way into the Capitol and killed 50 senators and representatives, it would make no difference. We live in a very sick society.
7
After reading this author’s experience serving as an intern for a politician (Rubio) who has not addressed gun control in a state with a significant number of mass murders via automatic weapons ....What are we waiting for???
DEMAND MORE FROM YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
22
How much money did Rubio get from the NRA last year? The year before? The year before that?..........
Keep up the good work - there can only be a legislative solution when there is an end to the effectiveness of the lobbying.
5
Banning guns will probably do about as much good as banning alcohol did, but on the other hand, it won’t hurt anybody to give up their assault rifles. And pistols too. Speaking from the viewpoint of a lifelong hunting guide, I’ve never met anybody, myself included, who can consistently be reliable when their finger is on the trigger. For every problem solved with a gun, there will be a whole lot more created. It would do more good and be about as feasible to ban the cowboy/good guy hero fantasies that all the jokers with pistols concealed under their beer guts have. In the profound words of Joe Biden, if you feel you must have a gun for defense “buy a shotgun”.
7
If matchmakers asked Republicans to hand out matches to kindergarteners for $500,000, they'd find a way to do it.
15
Good luck with that - how much money do you have?
1
Shana,
You are obviously a great young citizen who well deserved the internship.
Please do not cease contacting--and publicizing!--your pleas to Senator Rubio!
Senator Rubio,
Please step up to the plate and let us see that you are not another hack who has sold part of their soul to the NRA.
16
And another point - assault weapons should be 100% illegal.
19
Thank you for your insight that the senator does not care much about the opinion of his non paying constituents (alas, NRA has a seat at his table). I live in south FL. I have contacted Rubio's office several times. You highlight the gun deaths in FL that he has done NOTHING about. He is a senator from a very large swing state, he has influence, he is a disgrace to FL. His actions belie his claim to values life.
16
Shana, our junior senator is in the top 10 senators that have received the most money from the NRA with 3 million. Others on that list have been in the Senate for many decades. He's only been there 8 years!
11
Sorry to say that no senator knows or cares what their interns think. I worked in the Senate for 6 years, and saw many bright-eyed young people's enthusiasm dim when they realized that our current Congress is a large, well-oiled machine (currently greased by campaign contributions). And those smallest, unpaid cogs in that machine are exploited for their free labor. They have no voice there.
14
Thank you for writing that letter and expressing yourself so eloquently. I am sorry you have dealt with so much gun violence in your young life and I’m grateful you are taking a stand. The more voices that say “enough” and “do your job” to our elected leaders, the more hope I have that we can stop this madness and make the change that is so desperately needed and long overdue.
13
What a sensible argument, especially when one considers where the logic of the NRA leads. That logic leads to the idea that, as the lethality of portable weapons increases, the public must continue to have access to those arms. Before the Vietnam War, even the military did not have access to a rifle as lethal as the AR15. Now every American must have the right to buy one. When a bullet that can be guided by GPS is invented, the NRA's version of the second amendment will require that every American be allowed to by the system that fires, since (the argument will go) something that fires a bullet is a kind of rifle. it is the business of gun manufacturers to make ever more deadly and easily aimed and fired weapons. It is the business of the NRA and politicians like Marco Rubio to make sure that those weapons are as widely sold as possible.
6
Go Shauna, Go. I am so proud of the kids at MSD (alumni included) who will not let this issue drop. I am embarrassed to be living in a country where this issue must even be discussed! I am FED UP with legislators whom I have supported in the past who now will not take my calls (Rep Mike Turner!) hiding behind the NRA: Marco Rubio is one of them. You know a kid like Nick should never, ever be able to buy a gun, let alone an AR-15. We need a law passed today (Paul Ryan). It’s been said that in Israel, a person cannot own a gun until the age of 27; they have extensive training, they are only allowed to own ONE and they are taxed. Rob Portman (my Senator who has also accepted $3.3 million from the NRA) should be divesting himself of any association with this horrid lobbyist for the gun industry. Diane Feinstein should put the age for ARs at 27, or ban the sale altogether. Because here’s what we are gonna do: we are going PROTEST NOW and VOTE IN NOVEMBER. We are going to build a movement like a tsunami- strong enough to sweep every last NRA supporter out of office in November. We will take back the nation, the schools, and the gun laws. And this movement will cross state lines. We will support every anti-NRA candidate across the land.
12
As I watch mass protests develop in our high-school population, I find myself hoping that this spreads to many college campuses. Quiet, behind the scenes, conversations with the likes of the NRA and Gun Owners of America will never work.
Elected representatives will only respond to overwhelming political force, given the money arrayed against changes in gun regulation. Since over 90% of the population favors changes, maybe this can get done--with the help of our children. The "adults" will never do this willingly.
8
Shana: Upton Sinclair said, it is difficult to get a man to understand something if his job depends on him not understanding it. Rubio and the rest of the GOP are owned by the NRA. They would starve to death if they had to get an honest job. Your only mistake is that you think Rubio cares. He does not.
30
Shana you are to be commended for your brutally frank and honest letter to Senator Rubio. Regrettably he will not listen. He will be overwhelmed by the demands of the NRA and his constituents who demand gun rights and will assert that their personal freedom is more important than a student's right to life.
What you can do though is vote. You, your classmates, your contemporaries, your friends, neighbors and peers can all begin a movement to vote. You can also gather signatures for petitions to be presented to senators and congressmen and women alike demanding action. You can demonstrate and protest.
Shana your voice will be heard. If not by Marco Rubio then by the citizens of Florida who are tired of the shameful record and voting of elected officials like Mr. Rubio. You can and will be successful. You can also run for office and begin organization and mobilization of many people who want change.
I truly hope that you are successful. I wish you good luck not just for you personally but for the people who no longer want to be victims of the shooters and our incompetent and heedless senators and congressmen and women.
Thank you Shana for your courage and your voice.
Sincerely,
Jay
The Villages, Florida
24
As a politician, Rubio has received from the N.R.A. over $3,300,000 in campaign contributions. Just think about that staggering sum for a moment and the obvious influence it has "purchased". Has he named any one of his kids "Wayne"?
15
Shana you have shown more courage than senator Rubio. The students from Parkland are the adults and the lawmakers now are the children.
It pains me to say this but if Rubio experienced the pain of the parents that lost their children to this horrific violence maybe he would understand.
Maybe!
"Walk in my shoes" and perhaps these shameless politicians would feel the horror of losing a child to such a violent death!
I don't wish that horror on anyone.
Shana you get it!
Senator Rubio could learn a lesson of empathy from you!
14
I don't see any reference to amount of the check you enclosed.
1
You worked for this republiclown and know the outcome. Sad.
2
Certainly the body politic of our nation is to some degree religious but my sense is no change is possible so long as religious belief defines the political discussion. The two must be, as some of our founding fathers noted, separate. How equality between reason and myth is ever accomplished is beyond comprehension.
I feel this way because I was once religious and believed in a supreme being who determined the acceptable mores of life, The thought of a supreme being who dictated supreme law was necessary, if class divisions were to be drawn and respected.
Knowledge however has expanded to the point where belief should be considered as a step along the way of human development rather than the end. There are reasons why we put limits on greed, but some belief somewhere can be found as a way to excuse all of them.
The failure of critics may be in assigning blame to policies rather than the authors of those errors. Those who propose the policvies have reasons which are more often than not personal and that is what needs to be exposed to the citizenry.
1
Thank you Mr. Rosenthal for writing and sharing your letter. I have shared your letter and will keep a copy for myself. What you have said needs to be shouted in every state house and Congress. The time has come for action to write and pass sensible gun laws. To those who say it cannot be done,I say it can. If you are looking for an example, go to Australia where the people acted following a mass shooting. None has occurred since.
8
Sorry Shana. I saw the video after I commented. The video was very well done.
If these politicians lost their own family members to gun violence, then they'd care. Otherwise only money sways them.
7
Sorry Shana. Marko pocketed 3.2 million dollars from the NRA. I believe he has an A rating from the NRA. (Senator Nelson has a D or an F NRA rating.) Senator Rubio comes across as a nice guy trying to do the right thing covering for the NRA.. That's what the NRA purchased. That is what Senator Rubio delivered. He's the original "empty suit." The only hope Florida has is to replace Senator Rubio with someone with character and the courage to use it for the good of his state and his country.
12
Rubio's allegiance is to the NRA at almost $10,000! They own him or at least lease him.
1
Thank you for writing this letter and NYT for publishing it. We must vote the Republicans out of office in November and beyond.
7
As far as I'm concerned, Rubio is an enemy of the state.
11
I want a list of all senators and representatives who have received money from the NRA and how much! Republicans, Democrats and Independents!
7
Shana' I am a 89-year-old man, a veteran of the Korean War, which supposedly hardened me, but your eloquent plea made me cry as I watched it. (My tears are flowing now as I type this.)
Pleas to Pols I don't think will open the gates to sensible gun restrictions, but VOTING WILL!
Let's help to motivate people to GET OUT and VOTE!
10
These are some of the most powerful words I have ever read on the NYT Op Ed pages. Thank you for your strength in sharing them.
11
Marco won’t do a thing. Neither will the rest of the Congress.
Unfortunately neither will the state legislatures. They don’t have the inner strength.
Banning the NRA would be a good start but then we have the first amendment to protect them.
How about a constitutional amendment limiting the donations these entities can give to all politicos.
3
Funny how campaign contributions have become more & more like bribes in our electoral process. The highest donors get to influence (& corrupt). What we need desperately is an even playing field where nobody has political influence via money. The person who donates 5mil gets the same influence as the person who donates 5 bucks. Yeah, sound absurd, but our system of elections and government has also become absurd. I recall in the film A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Thomas More was given a silver goblet by someone with a court case. He was riding back home on a boat & had suddenly remembered the goblet & that it was a bribe, he tossed it into the water but the boatman retrieved it & gave it back to him. He soon encountered (his eventual betrayer) Richard Rich, & gave the goblet to him as he wanted no part of any gifts (bribes). There is too much money in political campaigns & campaigns & election process has become too long & too costly. There has to be a better way. I'm guessing a majority of elected officials have received gifts during their campaigns which amount to nothing more than bribes.
1
One idea would be for people to provide a couple of personal references for a federal background check. If you can’t do that or if they couldn’t buy a gun, neither should you. It could be checked instantly.
1
Rubio will not change. Vote him out. Yes, it will be a while. Perhaps he is hoping people would forget. At this point, holding him responsible until he is out may very well be a more realistic goal!
10
What a shame that anyone has to resort to “begging” Marco Rubio to do something decent, humane, and honorable.
I’d hate to say it, but don’t waste your time or energy. Bullies love to be begged to, and it never works.
14
Senator Marco Rubio, just another Republican empty suit. All talk and no action. Rubio's in the NRA's pocket so don't expect too much
11
Marco Rubio's time is UP. His said: "if someone wants to commit a crime, they'll find a way to get the gun to do it". Really? So how many mass shootings are committed using fully automatic weapons? NONE. Why? Maybe because they are BANNED. Why don't those nuts get their hands fully auto weapons anyway? Because its much more difficult to find an illegal weapon on the black market, so most shooters don't bother and go for the legal ones. This shows that gun control does work.
9
To the streets - “hey , hey NRA , how many kids have you killed today.”
12
Agreed. The nra deserves a full frontal onslaught. It doesn’t just have to be our kids that step up to this fight.
7
Response to Samir Hafza, Beirut, Lebanon.
A group DID INCREASE dominance, but the pendulum swings. Mega-Donors DID ADVANCE their agendas - of MORE direct access to public service coffers (privatization, charter schools) and -of LESS accountability of how they amass & retain powerful $ (remove regulations & all Inheritance Tax). Still, we resist.
Mega-Donors' money DID FIRE-UP THE EMOTIONS of each voter demographic BECAUSE if people become single-issue voters, they will elect Trump (Right-to-Life SC nomination) and ignore CORPORATIONS' Tax Cut (Gun Rights’ influence expands). DO NOT FALL PREY to anyone's control by submitting to "single-issue voter" TRAP. Of course, one issue will be dominant, but complex reasoning of all factors is aligned with citizenship and resists partisan politics.
In 2010, Justices Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas FOUND FOR Citizens United and FOR unlimited money into politics. They abandoned Our Democracy; and their poor distillation of Our Constitution RESULTED IN the People's access to leadership positions BEING CONTROLLED by Assemblies of Money. ANYONE WITH A SHRED OF IMAGINATION could predict a "tipping point" where enough supremacy in dollars ABSOLUTELY BECOMES an infringement to the Peoples' essential democratic necessity of one (1) woman / man equals one (1) vote.
But hey, people's right to Freedom of Mega-Money-Speech was protected. Besides weaponizing the SC nomination, oath-breaker McConnell begot their new Protector Gorsuch.
4
We don't need any more studies about gun violence. What we need are laws that will remove assault-type automatic weapons from Americans. We need laws for more thorough background checks and longer wait periods. We need greater agency data sharing between the F.B.I. and local law enforcement.
13
He is not going to do it, never. Those kids have a chance if they keep pushing the politicians and register young voters then we all have a chance. Those politicians want this new to go away. Hope these kids do it. I believe 80 percent of us want common sense gun laws and it is up to us to push the issue election after election. Then we all have a chance.
11
Rubio will be silent on guns as he wants his free parking at Regan International Airport, his salary and his seat in the Senate. He wouldn't want to actually work for a living.
22
His inaction shows the country and the world just how unfit he is to serve as Commander in Chief. He is kissing his chances at 2020 good-bye.
14
And to a chorus of rousing farewells.
Good luck , go away please.
7
Senator Rubio is another Republican who has no spine and no soul. He, like most every Republican member of Congress, won't do what is right. He will do what is politically expedient. It's about votes.
22
Votes and money...
5
You are wasting your breath on Rubio. He is owned “lock, stock, and barrel” by corporate interests, including the NRA.
19
Wonderful article and letter.
I hope the NYT will reproduce any "Thoughts and Prayers" response from Senator Rubio.
10
The reason other countries do not have mass shootings is that they do not allow citizens to own guns as does the US. Sure, people may own guns for target practice and hunting, however, there are strict laws in place to prevent carrying these weapons in public.
The USA needs to repeal the 2nd Amendment - it is archaic! It may have served a purpose in the past, but that time is long gone.
14
Florida students who are 18 are able to vote and even those younger will soon be able to vote. The fear of senators and congressmen is that they will be voted out of office.
Massachusetts has had no school shootings because Mass has strict gun control laws.
Vote for those representatives that support gun control and against those that support the NRA.
15
Thank you Shana for your heartfelt appeal to one of the prime enabler of unchecked gun sales in Florida. Your experience and your words are precious and meaningful to us, even if Senator Rubio won’t read them.
46
Our kids know what their biggest threats are and I'm pretty sure they're not that worried about the southern border. Think what that wall money could do for mental health resources instead of the budget cuts.
I'm wondering if our national guard units could be of assistance keeping schools safe. Not in uniform, necessarily, since we aren't and don't want to be a police state, but this is where our nation needs to be guarded until we smarten up.
2
Generally speaking I find the notion of being a single issue voter unappealing. However, in the case of gun violence, there's something to be said for the aforementioned stance. No votes for the recipients of NRA campaign donations !
58
So now I hope you spend much free time as possible, realizing as a young adult free time may be hard to come by, supporting those who are running against the gun lobby supporters (that is mostly Republicans). I admire your position but only wish outlawing AR-15s was not list simply because it was an oversight. These guns have no purpose except killing a lot of people quickly. Good luck, I hope you and others (Including me) can make a meaningful difference. Things that couldn't happen before happened almost overnight once enough people cared and were mobilized.
5
Nothing changes until an "A" rating from the NRA becomes a mark of shame instead of a point of pride. You do that by changing the hearts and minds of voters. They need to be continually reminded of the horrors of mass shootings. Pictures of the victims disfigured and covered in blood on the ground need to circulate widely. They need to hear directly from victims' families on an ongoing basis. Otherwise, this reality is no different from fake TV violence to most people.
Change voters' hearts and minds.
8
It would be so easy if we, the majority, and the campaigns against the NRA and Repugnant killer enablers, would fight with all means - especially when it comes showing the destroyed lives and hopes adjunct to the faces of the politicians responsible for it.
1
Yesterday was a chance for the adults in the room to be heroes. Our Florida representatives. Very sad.
11
If guns aren't allowed in the White House or the U.S. Capitol building (as of course they shouldn't be), why should they be allowed anywhere else?
15
People say the NRA gets its money from the gun industry. True. It gets money from Russia, too, as the TImes has reported. And it stands to reason that it and the gun-politicians also get money from organized crime. That's a business and, like legitimate businesses, it wants to get favorable legislation and regulations and to defeat unfavorable ones. Businesses do that by giving money to lobbyists, politicians, non-profits and 501c4s. If the Times would look into this, maybe we can change the conversation from 'teaching the grandkids to hunt,' the Second Amendment,' etc. and toward 'And how much money have _you_ gotten from contract killers, drug lords and child pornographers?'
1
He will give thoughts and prayers.
7
Shana if you want to be respected you should leave your internship with Rubio off off your resume.
7
I thought that first, too. But then changed my mind on that. She is able to write this letter because of it and she was young enough for it to not reflect on her own political believes.
You want Rubio to demonstrate some courage? You want him to stand up against the N+RA? You want him to bravely represent the people who elected him, instead of the lobbyists who own him?
Sorry to disappoint you, but "Little Marco" is not capable of such statesmanship.
Throw him out of office and elect someone with guts.
15
The question we need to be asking why don't other first world countries have our mass killing statistics?
Let's make politicians, the NRA, and all those who come on TV to defend guns answers that question.
9
A sincere, heartfelt and timely letter and video from your group, Shana - thank you, all. The vast majority of Americans know that guns are out of control and want reasonable restrictions, so that events like Parkland are much less frequent. But I say, with respect, don't address your pleas to Marco Rubio. This senator went on television within hours of 17 deaths at Parkland to say that, because Nikolas Cruz bought his AR-15 legally, there was no place for new legislation. He has a long history of denial and obfuscation on gun control because he has been completely bought and paid for by the NRA. His A+ grade from the NRA clearly means more to him than the lives of a few high school kids. There is nothing to be done except to remove him at the next election. Let his replacement just be someone with an ounce of morality and human compassion, who will support to gun controls that we all need.
57
As many my fear is this will fall upon deaf ears. Senator Rubio is a major recipient of gun industry (NRA) money.
19
Rubio has always had money problems. Big family and no other income than his government salary. He also has no scruples. Ruvbio ands his office have always been for sale. He has taken $3 million from the NRA. Offer him $3.1 million, and he will be an advocate of stricter gun laws.
21
Thank you for publishing your enlightening (but not surprising) letter.
Marco Rubio could start by donating the large sums of money he has received from the NRA to help bury the victims of violence. From what I've seen of most Republican politicians, this would be more wrenching to him than their deaths.
11
Shana Rosenthal, I am thankful for you, the students of MSD high school and the millions of others who are pushing, and will continue to push, for sane gun laws. Yesterday, I, too, wrote to Senator Rubio, the Republican senator who was elected to represent our state. My email to Marco Rubio, via his .gov website:
2/20/2018
" Please!
1) Support making sale of assault weapons illegal.
2) Join colleagues to create a limited-time, buy-back program to allow owners to turn in assault weapons and collect a fee. At the end of the buy-back time, possession of an assault weapon becomes illegal.
3) Possession results in confiscation and fine with possibility of incarceration.
Congress MUST take action, enact legislation, refuse NRA campaign donations and disregard gun lobbyists who petition to keep all assault weapons available.
If the only way to achieve relief from these killing machines is by amendment, then do it. Pressure House colleagues to introduce a bill and work until it passes. Then push as hard in the Senate.
Possession of assault weapons outside the military should not be protected by the Second Amendment's "well regulated militia" stipulation. Our well regulated militia is our military, not a bunch of gun owners. You know it, I know it, and millions of American citizens know it.
There's nothing more to say.
5
The press and every citizen needs to keep talking about how much money the NRA and the Koche machine contributes to politicians who consistently vote against reasonable gun regulation.
3
Good luck. Rubio dances more to the $3+ million from the gun lobby than the appeals of constituents. Maybe if a pledge of $6+ million ONLY if he turns down $3+Million is offered, he will change his mind. He has shown that he has his price.
8
Bravo Shana…and all the young people protesting….keep it up , be the ones that make a difference , if the adults can't do it…then you all do it.
..and, vote out Rubio….he'll never come around, not when he takes millions of dollars from the NRA.
9
Two Cleveland elementary school shootings, one in San Diego in 1979, one in Stockton CA in 1989. (Both schools named Cleveland) We keep saying we don't want this normalized, but in fact it *is* normalized. Not only that, policy changes have been directionally 180 degrees opposite what we should be doing since then.
2
While I agree with the writer's desire to enhance gun control laws, I think this is a terrible letter. She opens with basically a denouncement of him never visiting the Tallahassee office where she worked. That's not how you get someone on your side. It's obvious that this letter was meant for the choir, not senator Rubio.
1
But that is precisely how you get Rubio's attention!
3
She was an intern at Rubio’s office for five months. She needed to tell us what kind of a Senator Rubio when she was an intern— no-Show and maybe no-Care Govt official when it comes to this serious and out-of-control state of gun laws. The American people have been patiently waiting for constructive overhaul of the gun laws since Columbine (1999). It is 2018– we got nothing but more assault weapons and guns killing our most vulnerable. What kind of a country would you like to be a citizen?
2
She worked in his office and is exposing something that most of his voters or constituents may not be aware of. Allison is right that is how you get a politician's attention.
I once had an extremely difficult time getting an appointment with a Senator's office despite my experience previously meeting with multiple other offices. I am a citizen lobbyist -- I don't get paid or glory for my efforts and that's fine with me. No amount of e-mailing, calling, faxing to their state or DC offices helped. I don't tweet but my brother, who used to work in DC, suggest I do it so that the Senator's followers would know. Within a few minutes of recounting my experience on her Twitter account, I received a call directly from their office to schedule an appointment! I have also directly marched into politicians' offices on my day off and not left until they or their staff agreed to see me. I bring food, water, and a book to read. This is something I don't do often but it has worked in multiple instances.
Another interesting effort I have not tried: haunting someone ala Cindy Sheehan/ George Bush. This was actually pioneered decades ago by the Igbo women of Nigeria. Show up at every public event a politician attends and question them or protest with signs until they respond. No one has to do this singularly: take turns.
https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/igbo-women-campaign-rights-wom...
3
Ms. Rosenthal,
Right now Marco Rubio is trying to figure out how to ride voices like yours out. He is a weasel as amply demonstrated during and after the election of 2016. His duty is to himself and his resume. He still hopes to be president one day. You, Ms. Rosenthal, and all the other victims of this and other mass-shootings are just a distraction to him. You (we) can't expect anything from him. There may be others who might be moved to action, but him... no.
9
Hal, I agree, others might be moved to action. Marco we can move out. Everyone, please, please, PLEASE vote Rubio and his compatriots out of office.
3
Ms. Rosenthal is concerned that Senator Rubio won't even read her article. I would like to help her. So, I will print her piece and mail it to the Senator. On it I will write, "Stop taking NRA blood money."
Please join me. His address is Russell Senate Office Building, 2 Constitution Ave NE #284, Washington, DC 20002.
I believe Senator Rubio has a conscience. Perhaps we can help him grow a spine.
9
Thank u. I’m doing it now despite the fact that I do not live in Florida, asa concerned American— I will have my voice heard.
2
Jocelynm thank you. You may not live in Florida, but United States Senator Rubio's votes affect everyone.
Brava, Shana!
This, with its passion, beautiful youthful idealism, and conviction, is a clear voice amidst this chaos.
At what point will our elected officials eschew the NRA doctrine and speak out against assault weapons? Sadly, Marco Rubio is not at all likely to do this. It's extremely revealing that Ms. Rosenthal never saw him in the five months she worked for him. It corresponds to his no-show behavior in the Senate. (Really, what does this guy do between back waxes and platitudes? That's anyone's guess.)
Elected officials have a duty to represent and advocate for their constituents. By ignoring the danger of assault weapons, Rubio (and others) are not only not advocating for his constituents, but is tacitly complicit in the tragedies. It is doubtful he will read this letter, and even more doubtful that he will do anything about it.
Keep talking, Shana. You and your peers are leading the charge against this scourge. Together, we can win.
52
Good luck Sisyphus.
2
Shana Rosenthal, please run for Congress. Your background is political science. We need people like you to serve in Congress. Many of us commenting here would support your candidacy.
16
Rubio is a coward and a fool.
16
Ms. Rosenthal should have learned her lesson from her internship: Marco Rubio's decades-long track record, exponentially reinforced by one year as one of Donald Trump's lackeys, proves conclusively that he does not give a two-bit tinker's damn about murdered students--or the average American in any form. Rubio is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republican special interests, with the NRA right up there with the Koch brothers as his puppet masters.
Skunks cannot change their stink. All the high school students in America will not change Rubio's mind about kissing the NRA's behind. The only way to rid ourselves of the toxic power of Republicans like Rubio is to vote them out of office. I hope Florida's students will meet that challenge by mobilizing and voting. In every election involving a Republican.
17
In *every* election, not just ones with Republicans.
Thank you for your heartfelt article, Ms. Rosenthal.
However, the mistake you made, and still make, is to believe that a Republican can ever act out of principle, or in the interests of his or her constituents. As you get older, you will observe (as I have in my 68 years of life) that Republicans simply do not act out of principle, or in the interests of their constituents. They act only in the interests of their Party, and for the purposes of getting, holding, and using power. And for what? Solely for the purposes of their wealthiest backers. They really don't give a damn about their constituents, except insofar as they can fool them into supporting them. Because they only people they really work for are the people who give them money, and who have a very great deal of money to give them. In Mr. Rubio's case, those people are the NRA and the right-wing billionaires who give him money. Sorry, but that's the honest truth. Mr. Rubio has no principles to spare you. In the future, don't bother "begging" Mr. Rubio to do anything that his wealthy backers don't want him to do. if you are concerned about mass shootings, and gun control, and preventing these kind of massacres from occurring again, there is one thing, and only one thing you have to do.
Don't vote for a Republican. Any Republican. Vote for NO Republicans. Not now, not ever.
There, was that difficult? I'm almost 70. I just saved you a lot of time. Now you know,
17
Why in the world would someone intern for Republican Rubio and also be concerned about gun violence?? Republicans are in the pocket of the NRA--didn't you know that when you interned for him? Why are you working with these detestable sycophants of the NRA? You are partially to blame.
3
Rubio is shackled, body and soul, to the NRA, and even a letter as impactful as this one, published in the New York Times, would not influence him were it to cross his desk. But we hear you, Ms. Rosenthal, and we support your efforts. The majority of Americans of every generation are disgusted with the lobby that has gripped too many self-serving politicians and held them in its grasp while thousands of people die. The protests and the letters are of value, but we must make our voices heard at the polls. This is our only chance to restore sanity.
10
Half-educated, low-intellect person faking it as senator - spends more time with begging bowl in hand than on the job he was elected, but obviously unqualified for. Now brown-nosing the most odious man in America. You really expect anything good out of this dope?
14
You have a lot of support.
4
Rubio is a coward, craven and completely beholden to the NRA. He cares more for their money than the lives of the murdered children. Like after Sandy Hook and hundreds of other mass shooting deaths, Rubio will do nothing. The only recourse is to vote this worthless politician out of office.
15
Marco Rubio A+ NRA rating--toss out. Only F NRA rating need apply.....
4
Vote vote vote them out of office!!! You’ve got upcoming elections across the country. Show them #TimesupfortheNRA!
9
Shayna (?) Brava!
Watch for the right wing trolls and Russian bots to flood this board tearing you down. You are a brave young woman. I do hope the students of Stoneman Douglas persevere despite the inevitable opposition and dirty tricks that they will face from the filthy NRA and their minions.
Maybe the students and you should consider appealing to the owners/board members of the gun manufacturers themselves. Why are they silent through all of this? Isn't the NRA doing their bidding?
3
You go Shana!!!
4
I saw Rubio at a Town Hall in New Hampshire when he thought he could be President. My impression of him then was "empty suit." Ms. Rosenthal's op-ed simply confirms this impression. He is for sale to the highest bidder-in this case the NRA; a Senator, with no core beliefs, other than those which will keep him in office and feed his ego (and wallet). It is pitiful that the people of Florida re-elected him. As to the gun issue, the solutions are there and simple: break the stranglehold of the NRA and Gun Owners of America and gun manufacturers by starving the beast; run candidates committed to gun control and fight the right wing's verbiage with simple, clear language: ban assault weapons for commercial sale; close the gun show loopholes; provide funding for research on the impact of gun violence on society; strengthen background check laws. We must gather the political will to accomplish this. We are 4% of the world's population and have 42% of the worlds guns. No where else on earth to these mass killings occur. We will never be able to stop all deranged people from committing such heinous acts, but felons, domestic abusers, people on the no-fly list, and people with demonstrated and documented mental illness who present a danger to themselves and others, should not be able to buy guns-of any type.
5
Don't beg. Vote.
In this case, work to register your generation to vote, because they usually do not.
Not enough? Make the NRA and Rubio toxic.
How? Learn from the Right wing protests on Planned Parenthood. Use the Russian techniques of trolls and bots. The NY Times has articles on how they did it. You have real people ready to make real posts.
But the only thing that really counts is votes.
3
Sorry to tell you Rubio is bought by BRA and he does not have the backbone to stand up for the youth who are getting killed by home grown terrorists.
The man has no backbone and needs to be voted out, together with all the Politicians who are bought by NRA.
Some of these youth in future after finishing their studies needs to run for election and get all these corrupt politicians out.
Starting with corrupt old man trump !
7
Opioids. National health crisis.
Illegal aliens. Let's build a walk and enforce deportations.
Trade deficit. Rewrite all our trade agreements.
School shootings. Sorry. No changes needed.
Thanks Senators. Rubio and Gardner.
2
Bravo. We stand with you.
4
Unfortunately you bring no money to him, The NRA has paid him millions. Craven.
4
Florida, there are $3.3 million reasons to vote Marco "Liddle Hands" Rubio out of office. A shill for the NRA, he would rather pray than act. The time is NOW! It's an embarrassment to the legislature in Florida that young people are acting intelligently and going to Tallahassee to be heard, remember in the next few years they will be eligible to vote and vote they will you out of office.
7
A pretty damning indictment of Rubio - aside from his position on gun control. It's disturbing to read that he never showed up in his office, and probably never cared a whit about the needs or wishes of his constituents. What an execrable excuse for a person he is. Guess he didn't run for office for public service, but to enrich himself. He's received about $18,000 per dead child in funds from the NRA. I hope he thinks it's been worth it.
5
Does Rubio hide out from his constituents, like Colorado's Senator Cory Gardner? Maybe we need a natiOnal campaign, like #CALLTHEMOUT.
4
Dear Shana,
Marco Rubio will part with the NRA and forfeit the blood money he deposits in his bank account when pigs fly! I love your passion and genuine compassion but don't hold your breath waiting for Marco Rubio to get back to you. At best he'll join other GOP cowards who are only likely to send their "thoughts and prayers". GOD bless you Shana
3
It is sad she is so uninformed and so self-righteous and so sure she has the answers, when virtually everything she recommends either wouldn't help at all, or would make it worse.
Why are you begging him? Are you a citizen or a subject? Are you a free citizen or a slave? Your Senator works for you, he/she is a public servant. Demand of them what you think is necessary, persuade them if you must, but begging? Bah!
5
On Feb. 18th, Marco Rubio was interviewed by Jim DeFede at the local CBS Miami affiliate show called Facing South Florida. If anyone missed this, is worth watching. Marco Rubio gives the most ridiculous beyond belief performance of non-stop babbling drivel to pathetically attempt to justify his NRA propaganda spiel regarding the Parkland shooting. Totally unbelievable!
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/02/18/facing-south-florida-marco-rubio-sc...
4
You're wasting your breath. He won't do a thing.
3
To the voters of Florida......vote Rubio out asap!
5
Senator Rubio may be receiving condolences after his next try for office.
3
Rubio is a liar and opportunist. It is almost certain that he is currently assessing which way the wind is blowing on this issue. He will then finesse his response to show that he did " something". Sadly, he is not in a minority of one in that approach. Trump, McConnell, Ryan, and most of the Republicans are doing the same. Until and unless all of them feel the real prospect of losing their positions, nothing will change. Even then, not much will change. Blood money from the NRA is far too powerful a force. By the way, when will members of the NRA speak up, and vote, in favour of gun control? Their children get killed and injured too.
The first step in many to effect sensible, effective gun control, is to vote hypocrites like Rubio et al, out of office. Otherwise nothing will change.
4
MSD kids: Occupy Tallahassee until your voices are heard and action is taken by these corrupt politicians. Do not let them off the hook.
Go kids!
4
It's easyto likea handsome, youthful, intelligent politician. But make no mistake, this pig is in bed with the NRA and that's more important than children to him, even his own.
4
He is not intellgent.
Rest assured that Rubio won't read this.
3
Senator Rubio is a disgrace. Shana Rosenthal, on the other hand, is an inspiration. America, please observe and note the difference.
PS.: My only note for Shana - don’t beg, demand!
8
Little Marco is a paid political prostitute, for the NRA/GOP. He has received Millions of Dollars in " Campaign Donations ", from NRA affiliates.
LEGAL bribery, in other words. ENOUGH. Vote him out, in the meantime hold him accountable. SHAME HIM. Bigly.
3
Shana,
Thank you for doing your part for tikun olam. Florida desperately needs it.
Along with Senator Rubio, make sure to reach out to Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Ted Deutch. Although they are likely to support your position (especially your Congressman), they need to hear your voice too.
And get your synagogue involved as well. No matter their political leanings, all Jews need to support your position. Let them not only cry out, as we did in Egypt, but take action as well.
And, of course, vote. Make sure your friends vote too. We can make a difference, but only if we take action at the polls as well.
vacciniumovatum
1
Write all you want, you're not going to get any action out of Rubio
2
Good luck changing the climate change denying, NRA $3 million-dollar man.
1
What did Rubio tweet? '...the day we pray never comes'? This was the day he was paid to create.
Nice that you've come around, but you worked for a guy comfortable with kids being shot. Chalk it up to youthful indiscretion, and make better choices in the future.
1
Boomer, I wish I could give you a thumbs down. Castigating a young woman for choosing to learn about government is uncalled for. I'm sorry you couldn't leave even a sentence applauding her for the merits of her actions today.
All legislators with A or B grades from NRA are not pro-life but pro-lethal.
1
Rubio is a fake. He’s a GOP walk the party line boy who feigns resistance to Trump who really did a number on him in the debates. He’s for gums and owned by the NRA like his buddies.
1
Rubio takes blood money from the NRA. He doesn't care about people. Money and guns are more important than people for all the fake Christians in the Grand Old Poison.
1
Rubio is as deaf as any and all other Republican office holders. So far, no one has the guts to stand up for our children. Shame on them.
Dear Shana,
You are mistaken. You are not his constituent. The NRA is. Write all the letters you want. They will only listen is there are dollars attached.
1
He won't.
Marco Rubio just tweeted that some of the Parkland students who went to the FLA legislature are not really students but paid actors.
That Rubio would repeat this enormous disgusting lie tells you everything about what a moral leper he is.
Put a target on Rubio to be voted out office. America can't afford lying frauds like Marco Rubio deciding the future of our children. He obviously doesn't care if they get shot.
2
Senator Marco is a moral midget who (correctly) accused Trump of being a con man in the Republican primary. Once Trump was elected little Marco fell in behind Trump like a little puppy. Midget or puppy you are probably wasting your time trying to communicate with him.
If you want to have some impact, however slight, write him again and tell him you will dedicate your life to destroying him politically unless he changes his stance on gun control.
Thank you!
A Powerful statement posed to a horrible presidential candidate as well as a horrible Senator. Six years is a long wait to rid of this creep, by then the Florida teenagers will be old enough and ready to vote.
3
Recall that during the primaries Trump profoundly humiliated Rubio, but afterwards Rubio came crawling back to Trump to get in his good graces - same as Romney and Christie did. Rubio is spineless & shameless (and those are probably his best qualities). Expect nothing worthwhile from Rubio (or from any GOP politician).
5
What law that anyone proposes would have stopped this FL monster?
There is none.
Stop the “gun free” zones. Allow teachers to arm if they so choose. These mass shootings are all about response time. The police can’t respond in time. Only the armed adults present can stop these monsters.
1
Banning assault rifles would have kept down the number of fatalities and wounded. You must agree on that. Limit the number of bullets in magazines and the bump stock component. Registration of guns like cars are registered, waiting periods, national data base, background checks. These are at a minimum. You think it is a good idea for all teachers to wear handguns all day in the classroom? And they won't be subject to theft by those who wish to do harm? Better plan to pay teachers a lot more in salary to add this responsibility and raise your taxes to support it.
1
Arming teachers is a bad, bad ,bad idea. They did not sign on to be police. Can you imagine the outrage when, not if, an armed teacher, trying to stop an armed intruder, either gets killed himself or kills a student?
2
I wouldn't beg Marco Rubio to do anything. He has already let us know his priorities. He and every politician who has taken money from the NRA are accomplices to mass murder. They all deserve long terms in federal prisons.
6
Rubio accepts dollars from the NRA. Good luck getting him to do anything about guns-bottom line.
1
My hope for you Shana is that Senator Rubio reads and acts on your letter. But I would not hold my breath if I were you. He is beholden to the N.R.A. They are his donors after all. Perhaps if you had enclosed a check you might have gotten a response.
It is a wonderful letter and perhaps you might also send it to the Governor of Florida and the Florida State Legislature.
And while you are at it, why not run for the Florida State Legislature. They are so frightfully needing citizens like you.
2
Marco Rubio could be a hero. He will loose his next election if he does not do the right thing so why not step up? His four beautiful children & this tragedy in his own backyard are not as important as the money he receives from the NRA? Mr. Rubio please WAKE UP!
2
I am a gun violence survivor. I thought 10 years ago, when my neighbor shot himself in his garage that I knew what gun violence was. Since then, I have experienced hiding my 6 yr old (and an unknown 15 yr old girl) from a gunman in our local Target. A year ago December, I received the most horrific call as my 18 yr old hid from gunman in a bathroom closet. (I have text messages from this that will freeze your soul.) 5 months later, this same daughter was eating pizza at her friend's apartment when an angry student in the apartment above the fired his gun in the floor/her ceiling. Missed by less that 2 feet.
I have a story to tell, but my voice is easily dismissed as too emotional or biased. I need new voices, new perspectives, and new energy to take this forward. I will always fight this fight for gun safety... gun sense... but understand the mental toll it takes. Not as severe as each new shooting, but still... please add your voice & energy. Not One More.
109
If Ms. Rosenthal wanted Rubio to read her letter, I hope she attached a big fat check to the letterhead. He would then read at least as far down as the amount of the check, maybe farther.
This is a powerful example and this student citizen with contacts in 4 arenas could do, along the lines of 3 billboards, a billboard showing the interconnetedness demanding Rubio to do a legal u turn
In a moment of weakness during 2016, I decided that Rubio was probably an honorable man.
I was wrong.
He is as blindly idealistic as the rest of the fanatical Tea Party and Freedom Caucus jackals.
And obviously he can be bought. By the NRA.
1
Thank you for owning you are / were part of the problem. Now, get out there and vote, convince your presumably Republican friends to think, hard, about who and what they are supporting. Call them out. Be prepared, if you haven't already, to lose some of them. And I'm not suggesting you vote Democrat, Libertarian, or any other ism or party. Vote the person and their ideas, after actually meeting them. If you make another mistake, own that one, too, and change.
1
Vote them all out. It’s the only way.
2
Mannley, Rubio's term ends in 2023. But many states have spineless senators up for reelection.
Don't hold your breath. The NRA owns Rubio.
The answer is to vote Rubio out of office by electing a Democrat who will support gun control. Rubio never will.
1
Marco Rubio allowed Donald Trump to insult him during his Presidential bid, showing an incredible lack of spine.
Marco Rubio said he was bowing out of politics only to change his mind and run again, indicating a lack of conviction.
Marco Rubio with Trump leading, reimposed sanctions on Cuba, harming only the people not the leadership. He is a bully.
Marco Rubio refused to consider legislation banning assault weapons after the Parkland shootings, showing total insensitivity to his constituents.
Marco Rubio has proven himself to be a spineless, insensitive politician. He has also sold himself to the NRA ... bigly.
Marco Rubio does not belong in Congress.
2
Sad to think we might have to wait 2028 for you to run for Marco Rubio's seat and be the change that's needed, but that is exactly what it might take! And you can be sure that unless something more lucrative catches his eye, he'll still be there raking in everything the NRA and other "supporters" will throw his way.
I think you miscounted. Elected in 2016; 6 years later is 2022.
1
Does Ms. Rosenthal actually think Mr. Rubio cares about anything other than his political career?
2
From the unnecessary attack on Rubio’s presence in the Tallahassee office - from the extremely limited perspective a 20 hour a week intern! - to the list of proposals at the end, none of which would have prevented this latest shooting, this column is a mess.
But still, it’s instructive because it’s a mess. First it shows us that the left isn’t really interested in a solution. If they were, they wouldn’t lead with egregious attacks. If they were, they’d actually listen to what Second Amendment proponents advocate, so that they could start from common ground. If they were, they’d use this common ground to establish a set of compromises, like civilized people do.
But instead, they lead with attacks, demand it all, and then play the helpless victim when they go home empty handed, just like tribal savages might in a more primitive, compromise free and lawless society.
And this is the second reason this mess of a column is instructive. It’s yet another futile thrust in a culture war masquerading as policy proposal. And that’s what gun control really amounts to.
If the left wants progress on this front, consider what the right is willing to entertain. Like raising the legal age of long gun ownership to 21, like it is with handguns. Like allowing the kind of gun restraining orders and due process measures that states like CT have already enacted.
But there’s none of this in this piece, because this isn’t about compromise. This is like immigration. The left wants to lose.
In the 2015-2016 election cycle alone, all GOP candidates took $17,385,437 from the NRA. That might also have a little bit to do with it.
1
We often hear about changes to Australian gun laws in 1996 which are credited with halting further mass shootings. There is another Australian event which illustrates the benefits of the gun laws.
Three weeks after the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007, mentally ill student Sarah Jean Cheney at La Trobe University in Melbourne acted on an impulse to “go on a killing spree at the university”. Her only accessible weapon was a kitchen knife. She injured one student but killed no-one. Same state of mind as the Virginia Tech shooter but 32 fewer lives lost.
1
Shana - your personal experience is hard to argue with and your voice is authentic. Please keep going, get louder and don't stop stirring the pot among your generation. At worst, your efforts will make it sharply apparent that inaction among our politicians is criminal.
1
The only gun control cowardly grifters like Rubio and Scott favor are the gun free zones in their places of work. Although I used to be opposed to the concept, I now feel that term limits are the only answer to getting rid of the cancer which infects our government. That a young, obviously idealistic, person worked in Rubio's office for five months and never even got to see this miscreant says it all.
1
Absent term limits being in the Constitution, I don’t think politicians will ever vote to impose them on themselves. Pity.
Thanks and blessings to Ms. Rosenthal. Thanks to young people like her the truth may overwhelm the predictable blizzard of bad faith lies and nonsense coming from the right; as the Times reports today, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, etc, are attacking these young people as actors, plants, stooges of the Democratic party.
David Brooks has called in the pages of this same paper for "respect" first--from gun control activists for gun owners!--then gun control. Is he reading the rest of the paper that he writes in?
1
There is plaintive cry about this letter that falls on the deaf ears of a callous Republican senator. Shana's letter is powerful but directed at the wrong person. No one in the Republican Party is going to listen to Shana and that is the mistake that idealists like Shana make.
These Republican 'servants of the people' will not listen to you Shana. The only way you will accomplish the worthy goals of your imagination is to vote the uncaring Republicans out of office and put into office honest hard working true Americans such as your self or others with the same integrity.
So let your ideals soar by educating yourself about the evil that is the Republican Party and the goodness that their opposition represents, then, work hard to elect the opponents of the Republicans to office so your efforts are not wasted on a corrupt political system and party.
64
Sorry, but I'll listen to 320 million other Americans before I listen to someone who was clueless or deceitful enough to work for Marco Rubio.
Luckily we have the press, for without it your letter to the senator would surely go if not unread, unnoticed.
You, we, have the satisfaction of knowing he has seen it and ignores it at his own peril.
I think that high school seniors have the power in the next year, and the following 2 years to change the course of this country.
It is mainly through apathy that we find our country in the mess we're in, that is the apathy of those who do not vote.
High school students unite!
Unite and take with you others who can and will make a difference. Soon.
And vote!!!!!
Thank you for writing this Shana!
Rubio is a spineless pretty face. His track record in the senate is one of grandstanding and then folding. He is the epitome of the cynical Republican who knows better and yet doesn’t act because he has no core convictions or principals. The people of Florida deserve better than him and Mr. Hospital Medicare Fraud Rick Scott.
We in Canada always are shocked you Americans let this keep happening. That said, you get what you vote for. And your country (at all governmental levels) votes GOP most of the time.
And ...Why don’t the Dems run viciously negative attack ads against Paul Ryan and Mitch M such as : “they prefer campaign donations too children’s lives?”
They don’t bc they like guns too! Right?
1
America’s children are being slaughtered attending their schools and Congress is bought off by the NRA. The NRA has become a terrorist organization aiding and abetting the killing of our school children. And now the children are begging the adults to protect them ... we know what we have to do ! Vote every person out of office owned by the NRA who are ignoring the cries of our kids and turning our country into a place where the massacre of school children has become the norm. Ban the sale of assault weapons, strengthen background checks and tighten the loopholes at gun shows. You know they always point to Chicago because they have strict gun laws but good old Indiana supplies many of the guns killing their citizens. It would make sense to have a federal law, a hodgepodge of gun laws for different states is insane and allows the transporting of guns across state lines. Chicago would have less gun deaths if we had a national gun law banning assault weapons. Australia made the moral choice and it worked, we can too !
Ms. Rosenthal's video and letter are both articulate and exemplary. So much so that since she is 21 years old, she is eligible to run as a candidate for Florida's State Senate. She could become a part of the solution to this tragic situation by doing so.
Yes, letter writing is one means of affecting legislation, lobbying in person as the students from the M. Stoneman Douglas High School are doing today is even more effective, but becoming part of the Florida legislature (whose idiotic refusal to even consider assault weapons ban yesterday) would augur a sea change in the way that such issues are handled.
Please, Ms. Rosenthal, consider running for local office now, and use your considerable talent and experience to turn this situation around!
Shana, thank you for your letter. I hope Marco reads it, and more, I hope he acts. History tells a different story: Rubio talks a good game, then falls in line. That's his M.O.
To effect change, we must place dedicated and continuous pressure on our lawmakers. After Sandy Hook, they waited out the outrage. After Las Vegas, they hid behind the #MeToo outrage to deflect. After Southerland Springs, they embraced a "good guy with a gun" lie.
1
Powerful, effective letter, Shana. Thank you very much for taking the time and energy to write it.
I live in Florida, so I, too, emailed Senator Rubio with some of the same points as you make. They seem commonsensical to me. Who would oppose them?
I never get the sense anyone there reads my correspondences despite the robo-letters I get back. Plus, Rubio is a big gunman. He's very disappointing as a representative: He won't even stand up to stop kids from being murdered at school. That's as bad as it gets. With friends like that, you don't need enemies. I hope he loses the next election, but Floridians will vote for any Republican. And he is some Republican. He has kids, too. How does he sleep at night? Are all these guys amoral or just brain-dead? If this latest Florida mass murder doesn't light a fire under these bozos I don't know what will. He will probably vote for Trump's bump-stock bill, and then boast, See, I did something right there. Okay, enough of that; now everyone is safe.
I hope you don't have to read about my grandkids being slaughtered in their Florida school. Your letter should help prevent that.
1
Within 24 hrs of the Parkland, FL tragedy, Rubio was making worshipful remarks in the US Senate chamber about the 2nd Amendment.
...guess his $174K salary and free parking at Reagan airport (see Tom Friedman's op-ed today) mean more to him than saving children's lives.
Or do Senators actually make more?
1
Great letter. NYT's - you're great for publishing it!
If you want to convince Rubio to oppose the NRA simply tell Norm Braeman of Braeman automotive in Miami that you will demonstrate at his car dealerships and encourage people to shop elsewhere. He is the money behind Rubio. Rubio hasn’t the character to act on his own but Braeman does.
3
BRAVA, Shana.
Marco Rubio is my senator, too. A few years ago, I gave up writing old-school paper letters--and emails, even--to him. For every five communiques I sent to the senator, I received in return one marginally-relevant form letter. Meaning, it was 95% boilerplate, 5% [your issue here]. And there was never any proposed solution--to anything. It was always "I appreciate hearing from all sides regarding this issue; please know that this is a controversial topic, and I will consider all opinions." Er...?
I will also note: the staff member currently manning Rubio's Twitter account does a lot of copy-pasting from BibleGateway. Hilarity ensues when a holy tweet involves, say, Jesus reminding us of our moral duty to feed the poor and care for the sick; meanwhile the senator is busily voting, that day, to defund another program meant to help those very Americans. Ironicalism!
5
Thank you, Shane, for your eloquent and reasoned letter to your senator. He won't listen. He probably won't read it unless another intern tags it.
He's been bought by the NRA. His price was $3.3 million. His home state of Florida, yourself and all the victims suffered gun carnage in your short life. After Newtown, Rubio voted against strengthening gun background checks. His perfect voting record for the NRA matters more to him than children's lives.
Vote him out. Run for office yourself. Honor those who have lost their lives by trying to prevent the same happening to others.
Get rid of every NRA gun puppet.
1
Being the Senator from Florida is as difficult a job as I can imagine. I can think of no other state that is half Mississippi and half New England and California.
Nothing tells me there is no future for a single country whose citizens live in two different realities.
1
Don't be astonished when Rubio does nothing to control guns. He's owned lock, stock and barrel by the NRA and its gun manufacturing patrons.
1
Shana,
I wonder why "banning assault rifles from individuals" didn't make your list. It is unnatural, cruel and inhumane to own one, let alone use.
1
Shana, I can only hope that it is comforting and encouraging to you, to know that there are people out there, all across this nation, who are looking forward to your success. We back you with our hard earned $$, because we know that your effort, and $$ are the only way to topple myopic strange creeps like Rubio who refuse to accept that there are simple answers to this problem. Their continual failure to push for our children's safety is dismaying, but the future likelihood that he will be gone, and you will be in his place, gives the rest of us great hope. Thank you, for all that you do, and will do.
As I read these heartbreaking pleas for humanity, I wonder if what they ask is simply too complex because then the GOP and its Russian bots can easily twist words and motives. Let's try a simpler demand - that politicians refuse NRA funding-and we'll help them find non-gun sources of funding, e.g. Michael Bloomberg.
Marco Rubio will never help stop mass shootings beyond a limp prayer - he's a coward who has been bought and paid for by the NRA. In fact, he's #6 on the list of highest paid politicians bought by the NRA ($3 million )
Mr. Rubio is a clear and present danger to his Florida constituents.
1
Deaf ears Shana. That is what you have written to. The odds of any meaningful change in the sale of assault weapons, or any weapon, to the wrong people is abysmally low. The need for leadership on this front is not to be found in the GOP. They do not believe in gun safety for all because it will impinge on the profiteering of gun manufacturers, one of many sacred cows that the GOP embraces.
Ms. Rosenthal, I have a better idea - move past Rubio - he is already bought and paid for by the gun lobby.
In four years you will be 25-years old, and you know what that means? It means you will be of legal age to run for the House or Representatives. Go for it. Seriously. We need you.
1
I will believe the lawmakers are sincere when they allow open and concealed carry in their government workplaces. How many red states allow that???
Wonderful! Finally a generation that has a voice. Demonstrate at the Trump golf courses, at Trump Tower and at the homes and offices of elected officials. Yes - a National March. You are not lemmings blindly following the Limbaughs of this country.
Beg all you want. But Senator Marco Rubio is collecting and counting the $ 3.3 million in N.R.A. money he has already earned by begging, hoping and praying to reach the $ 7.7 million N.R. A. money mountaintop occupied by John McCain.
59
I guess then we have no choice but to vote them out of office.
1
Your heart's in the right place, Shana, but don't beg. Never beg. Demand.
Our representatives are supposed to represent us, even though most of them don't, even though most of them are bought and paid for by various lobbies, and in the case of Republicans, the gun lobby. But we won't get anywhere by asking, by explaining, by begging.
We are living a nightmare in this country. The time for namby-pamby "civility" is way past over.
3
It's not just Rubio, and it's not just guns. Republicans are killing people every day ... The CBO estimated that ending the public mandate will end up depriving 3 million people of insurance. That translates to thousands of people who will die prematurely and unnecessarily because of they cannot afford or defer health care.
Republicans are responsible for all these deaths. And now they are planning to kill more people by cutting more social services to pay for their trillion-dollar giveaway to the already obscenely wealthy. I only hope that they will be held accountable ... in this world or the next
3
Something for the GOP to think about, many 17 year old's will be 18 by next Election Day and not only in blue states. The kids are coming after you folks. Don't underestimate them.
2
Thank you. Your letter is a powerful indictment of the lack of congressional action concerning gun control/gun safety. We think that terrorists only exist in the Middle East, but you have witnessed/been connected to four such terrorist events right in the heart of Florida. Please keep speaking out. We need young people to become politically active for their to be real lasting change. And BTW it is absolutely disgusting that right wing pundits like Rush Limbaugh should suggest that the students planning these protests are shills for anyone else... What these students represent to me is courage to speak out, to make the world a better place in the face of a horrific experience....And to think that 17 year olds cannot organize such a protest is beyond pathetic. Please just let this be the start of your life as a social justice advocate.
48
Well said, Shana. I like the ending about the "wasted seed." Indeed. I sometimes think about his parents, simple people from Cuba who were laborers. They are turning in their graves right now over what their son has become.
I just read that the 64% republican controlled legislature here in Florida passed a law several years ago that forbids a mayor from adopting tougher gun laws. The fine is $5,000, simply for trying to protect citizens from gun violence.
They say that sea level rise will occur unevenly, with South Florida suffering flooding sooner and more rapidly than any other place on the continent. I am at the point where I consider this to be poetic justice. This state has been raped and abused by the GOP in so many ways for so many years, it's practically cursed.
The Florida students are showing more leadership and heart than most of our elected officials.
1
“The Washington Post reported that after Mr. Trump saw the coverage of the student protesters, he asked Mar-a-Lago guests whether he should do more about gun control.”
The former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, went to jail for selling a senate seat. Every GOP seat in both houses is owned by the NRA--sold by the legislators themselves. Why is the occupant of the seat allowed to sell it when the Governor is jailed for the same crime? Prosecute them.
1
People seem to forget the "well regulated" part of the Second Amendment. There can be no other explanation than pure greed on the parts of the gun industry and the politicians they support.
This outrage feels different.....I hope it's different. The younger generation is ready to take a stand and we must support them. Many of us came of age in the 60's and our cynicism grew out of the senseless "conflict" in Vietnam that killed 58,000 of our generation. Now the carnage is on our own American streets, in schools, churches, outdoor concerts, movie theaters and on and on. This is no way to live and we don't want our kids to die. It's time, politicians. Do the right thing for your families and for the sake of this country.
55
Good for you Shana. Very well written. Chop editing in the video wouldn't have been my first choice but you do you. Good job.
Speaking from personal experience though, I more or less gave up on "concerned citizen" status. After a few hopeful engagements, my reality became clear: My message, no matter how well written, was never making it past the intern. I actually have a running tally of how many days it took a new intern to learn not to bother forwarding my message. The cutoff point is when the new-hire first learns to ask for a zip code before fielding a question. Wrong zip code, they're doodling in a notepad. Thanks for the call.
That's not to say the effort is worthless though. Personally, the disrespect only burns my fire brighter. The absence of thoughtful response has motivated an intelligent activism on my part. Letters are one element, my favorite really, but things get way more sophisticated from there. My only advice for next time: Include an explicit request for response in writing from the Senator. The office is legally required to provide one. Automated email spam doesn't count. I suppose the NYT does you one better though.
Happy hunting!
Before Ms. Rosenthal took the internship in the senator's office, EVERYONE knew Marco Rubio's views on guns when he was running for re-election (which he said he wouldn't seek) in 2016 after his failed bid for the presidency.
Where was Ms. Rosenthal after the shooting at her school? Where was Ms. Rosenthal after the carnage in Orlando? Did she not know then that her senator's full name is really Marco "This Is Not The Time To Talk About Gun Regulations" Rubio? How about the shooting at the airport?
It took a killing at her alma mater, around the corner from her house for that smacking of the head moment. Pardon my geezer cynicism: too little, too late.
Politics occasionally presents us with useful litmus tests. Any politician who says it's "too soon" to talk about gun control without saying when it WON'T be too soon to talk about it is a despicable human being unworthy of office. This letter is a cri de coeur on behalf of the mass-shooting generation, all of whom (the ones who survive, anyway) will be voters soon enough. It is an important warning. Unfortunately, the despicable human beings to whom it is addressed aren't listening.
Your effort is appreciate Ms. Rosenthal, and while it serves a purpose here it will fall on Rubio's deaf ears. The man is bought and paid for. His oath, his obligations, his supporters all mean nothing to him. His "senatorial judgment" doesn't exist. Attempting to influence his opinion is worthless. There is just one way to make him listen, and that's to vote him out.
Excellent letter. I will share it on my FB page. Rubio and all the others may finally be shamed into doing something!
I didn't see any mention in this letter of enclosing a large check for Rubio's re-election campaign. Without that, I'm sure she will get little response.
I commend Shana on her letter but she & her fellow students need to VOTE these NRA puppets out of office.
Who will be this generation's Ralph Nader?
Nader exposed Car manufacturers' resistance to safety features and their general reluctance to spend money on improving safety.
Gun manufacturers are allowed to make whatever the want, give them names like "Ultimate Assassin", and ignore the health and safety of US citizens.
As we speak, the far right fringe is actually trying to make an argument against the outspoken young people who, unlike themselves, have actually stared down the barrel of an assault weapon aimed at them with the intent of killing as many of them as possible, as quickly as possible.
Make no mistake about it, that is the specially designed purpose of the AR-15. Kill as many people (not deer) as possible, as quickly as possible. It is a weapon of war - not defense.
The United States government acknowledged as much in it's desire to obtain those weapons for use by soldiers in the field in Vietnam, to replace the deadly but not so lethal M-16 they were using. They wanted a more efficient killing machine against the Viet Cong and chose the AR-15.
That is where this weapon belongs; in the hands of trained soldiers in the field during armed conflict - not in the hands of 18 year old civilians in our neighborhoods and in our schools..
To suggest that these kids are the pawns of the left - manipulated by "liberal" adults into their positions, and incapable of organizing into an effective "movement" is to decry the success of kids not much older in stopping a war.
Then, adults were continuing to send kids out to be cannon fodder in an unjust and unwinnable war. Now, adults are sacrificing kids to their obsession with non-existent 2nd Amendment rights to carry assault weapons.
In both cases, it takes young, passionate, directly effected kids to fight back - and they are..
81
Nancy Parker - thank you from an old fart who has hunted for many years. But has found the NRA to be an organization that wandered off its original path long ago. I have nothing but contempt for the NRA as it is today.
Kudos to these young people. Essential that they get the continued long term exposure from the media that is so critical to their objective. March on Washington, college kids, go to Washington - not the beaches - for Spring Break. All citizens with any modicum of social conscience - let's help and support these young folks. They need a funding source to pay for buses and lodging in DC. Tent cities should spring up when they go. Washington DC will need help with portable showers and porta potties, and more. Existing NRA members - drop your membership like a hot rock. Nobody wants to take away guns from responsible hunters, target shooters and plain old plinkers. We all know what kinds of weapons are available for legitimate sportsmen. We all have seen killer type guns displayed in gun shops - and have recoiled at there deadly capabilities and ready availability. Remember the R in NRA - sadly expanded to all kinds of high capacity weapons and handguns. Finally, lets identify those politicians who cater to the NRA - as originalists by heart - they should welcome the opportunity to return to Black Powder Hunting.
4
Despite having been quite vocal about supporting the 2nd Amendment, Rubio wasn't aware that a law passed during the Clinton administration effectively banned federal research into gun violence. This ignorance on the part of our elected officials bodes ill for any common-sense solution to gun violence.
My experience as a Tallahassee coter is that Marco Rubio’s response to your beautiful plea will be a soulless form letter which gives every indication he didn’t read it. But for the fact that one of our great newspapers published it; now maybe his eyes will graze it.
Good luck, most Americans including democrats suffer from our cultural gun sickness but republicans like Rubio hold it as a badge of honor.
Most democrats are obsessed with gun control as the sole cure, hate gun owners, but do nothing about Hollywood feeding a steady diet of R rated gun violent media entertainment to our children, especially those of color.
Republicans are not hypocrites. They pretty much couch their American sickness under the guise of the 2nd amendment but Madison did not intend it to kill/injury 100k+ Americans every year, an aberration re our peer countries. It is the extreme opposite of what he wanted.
The answer to our problem is legality, regulation, responsibility and non promotion of the gun like we did with cigarette smoking.
1
This is an amazing letter from someone who has seen how our elected officials work (or don't work) on the problems we assume they are addressing. I would love to see Senator Rubio's fund raising logs for those same time frames, i am sure it would explain why he was a phantom in his own office. Throw the bums out. Throw the PAC's out. Throw the mega donors out. Install people elected by the people.
You - and your friends - are already under attack by the GOP for being dupes and actors and left wing operatives - even in the few days following this avoidable tragedy.
I hope you and your friends take note. You know the truth.
Are they right? Of course not, and what would be the incentive to disrespect you this way
As you decide your political lives ahead - just one facet of decisions about career and family and education and community involvement - is this the party you want to align yourselves with?
59
Ms Rosenthal,
Did you intern with Rubio because you agreed with his policies or because it was a career opportunity?
In the first case his policies defend the nra, in the later you chose to ingratiate yourself to power for career purposes. Either way, you in some small way bare responsibility for his actions, or inaction's as the case may be.
The point is power is a corrupting and seductive. You chose to work for him he choose accept money from the nra, A leopard can't change its spots nor will Rubio change his policies. The nra got him to were he is, bought and paid for. To sacrifice the nra is to surrender his career, nobody backs a politician who turns his back on a donor. You want change, its the long road of reform. Gerrymandering, special interest groups, dark money, Voter id (suppression) laws, and hundreds of ways politicians are able to control the electoral process need to be addresses. Only then will we have a chance to defeat the gun lobby.
But first VOTE Rubio out. Vote!
3
Shana, your words touched me and my family. I am the age of your grandparents, also an FSU alum and you took me back to the days of the Civil Rights revolution, the horrors of the Vietnam War and the bloodletting at Kent State. Along with millions of others, the heartfelt outrage needed a channel and Dr. King and others, notably John Lewis, stood out for their perseverance, determination and refusal to accept "go slow" as meaningful. We had many versions of Sen. Rubio then: men who sold out. Some who new better, called us traitors or cowards. But, there was a reckoning. There always is. Please stay in the forefront. Hold his feet to the fire. Resist the half-hearted offers of compromise. By the way, Bob Dylan's anthem, "When the Ship Comes In," keeps playing in my mind. May God bless and protect you.
9
Thank You Shana, you certainly do your community proud. Thank you to Davis Hogg and his fine surviving students from Parkland's High School, who so eloquently made pleas this past week, regarding the assault weapons.
Calling on the Florida Governor and Senator Rubio to take a strong stand on this horrible carnage.
Thank you Dennis Purtell for you fine recommendations.
As a resident of Newtown /Sandy Hook in 2012 - witnessing the killings of 20 little children, their Principal and teachers. I say DO SOMETHING! Each state needs to take measures to stop the blood bath we witness almost daily.
4
Thank you for writing this letter, Ms. Rosenthal.
For those who think that the letter is meant to be addressed only to Sen. Rubio, I think you are incorrect. I've advocated for funding for medical research on a federal level: when I was first starting out, I took every opportunity to get my testimony in venues where the public would see it. It wasn't only about reaching a particular official, agency, or staff member: it was to inform the public about the issues, get my efforts documented, and, yes, to publicly SHAME officials. It worked.
Also, recently saw a PBS documentary about 1890s America and how populists forces, composed mostly of immigrants, the poor, farmers, and many other disenfranchised group, gained political power. Yes, that's right -- they made sure to vote, regularly and in their own interests. Contrast that with today where voting rates are often around 30% or even lower.
11
Amen.
Also ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons, including assault rifles, to civilians.
And start a program to confiscate - through buy-back or seizure - all such weapons now in the hands of civilians. The buy-back to be paid for by firearms manufacturers.
Finally, pass a law mandating full public financing of political campaigns and the prohibition of campaign financing and advertising by private interests, thus removing the power of special-interest lobbies to influence the American political process. Prohibit the writing of legislation by lobbyists, and the employment of former politicians by the industries they oversaw while in office.
17
It is a beautiful letter, but it will have no effect on Rubio.
7
Agreed. He needs to be voted out of office - as soon as possible.
No one in America, not a corporation, or a private individual, nor any kind of fund, should be allowed to give more than $100 to a candidate. Game over.
One generation ended the Vietnam war. Maybe this one can end the endless war on our own citizens, in our own country.
11
Ms. Rosenthal, Thank you for speaking up, and giving a long-overdue slap to Sen. Rubio. He can't speak from his heart on these tragedies, but he can speak from his NRA-financed backside by wringing his hands and lamenting that there are too many guns on the streets for any helpful effort to do any good.
Yes, by all means, be persistent in your efforts. I wish I were 30 years younger so that I could have the energy to join you and your generation in fighting to urge Congress to enact sensible gun legislation. As the rest of us have already seen, it seems like a lost cause - - we have too many people in Congress and state houses who are, in essence, paid shills for the weapons industry via our back-stabbing friends at the NRA. The fight for the greater good might best be achieved by reaching out to the voting public. Urge them to un-elect these career politicians who have sold their souls to the arms industry.
What you can do in the meantime is join the effort, and fight hard, to enable the CDC to conduct their research into the health crisis of gun-related deaths. The findings and recommendations of good science have done much to curb deaths in America from automobile use, cigarette smoking, chemical applications, and so much more.
Godspeed in convincing Sen. Rubio and his colleagues in Congress to change their minds and mail back their donations from the NRA. If you are successful, you will have achieved a miracle.
11
A beautiful and powerful letter. Bravo!
I supported Senator Rubio financially in early 2015 for the 2016 nomination. I now regret that support for a number of reasons, certainly including his seeming allegiance to the NRA.
6
You are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for your advocacy. Now it is time for Mr Rubio to be voted out of office and for an honest and trustworthy new Senator to take his place. Time for action and for positive change.
11
If one looks at the ages of the mass shooters since Columbine, it is apparent that most of them are under 30 years of age.
Let us raise the age for purchasing or possessing AR-style rifles and their component parts to age 29.
If further restrictions are required, let us impose the same requirements on the purchase and possession of AR-style semiautomatic rifles as now are enforced for the purchase of fully automatic weapons under the National Firearms Act of 1934. That requires fingerprinting, a real background check, restrictions on their transport away from the address to which they are registered, payment of a $200 tax stamp to the Treasury, and most important, approval by the chief law enforcement officer (usually the elected Sheriff) of the locale in which the purchaser resides before BATFE will approve the transfer.
If memory serves, since the imposition of those requirements on the sale of fully automatic weapons, they have been used exactly twice in the commission of crimes in the United States, and in both cases, those crimes were committed by police officers.
2
Not even Ms. Rosenthal called for the one critical piece of legislation, reinstatement of the ban we once had on civilian ownership of assault weapons.
To those who say the time for that has passed, because so many such weapons are privately owned, let me remind them of the first rule of holes: When you're in one, stop digging.
To those who say that banning one weapon will cause people to buy others, it's possible to make an explicit list. To those who say that that is not sufficient, that one must ban a whole class of weapons, but that it is not possible to accurately define the class of weapons to be banned, baloney. Specifying various characteristics, including shape, maximum rounds per minute, type of bullet, and other characteristics would be sufficient.
Not all gun owners are kooks. There are plenty, indeed a majority, of gun owners who want "common sense" gun control. Many are not NRA members, and even many NRA members disapprove of that organization's extremist views on gun ownership.
Perhaps it's time to start telling gun owners that either they start supporting reasonable gun control or they will face a much more radical proposal, the repeal of the Second Amendment.
8
"Perhaps it's time to start telling gun owners that either they start supporting reasonable gun control or they will face a much more radical proposal, the repeal of the Second Amendment."
I've been wanting to say words to this effect. Thanks, Aram. The Second Amendment is getting people killed. At the very least, let's reword it so it can mean what the Framers intended.
Shana you should be applauded by all for writing this letter to Senator Rubio. Each one of us must take action to try to halt the the terrible violence and chaos caused by guns.
I, too, have written to my Senator, Pat Toomey, urging him to put the safety and welfare of his constituents above the access to guns in Pennsylvania. I also recognize both Mr. Rubio and Mr. Toomey have received significant donations from the NRA, and that is a major roadblock. Money , more often than not, plays a role in our political outcomes.
You and the survivors of the Parkland massacre give me hope that change can come . Persistence and courage can prevail. In the end, we must fight to end the tyranny of the gun lobby, and its stranglehold on our politicians.
6
Sen Rubio just does't seem at all impacted by constituent input. He responds with position papers, he's defensive and staunchly against piblic health and safety as evidenced by his policy statements and voting record. He HAS introduced the weakest legislation almost sure it would fail (see his recent tweets, altho they're littered with trite quotes from The Bible). However, if a person can't get an assault style weapon, it cannot be used against others.
6
Nobody answers the phones at Rubio's offices. When my husband writes him regularly asking him to represent his constituents, he receives automated responses, nothing more. Rubio is on the payroll at Florida International University but he doesn't do anything for that money either. The man is spineless, craven, and lazy. Unfortunately, his job is safe for another five years, so don't expect any action from those quarters.
8
Interesting, that Rubio's job is safe for another five years. If he has a second job , shouldn't that be an ethics's violation? Granted the real ethics violations have to do with the legislation he votes to pass, but one would hope there is something in his record for which he can be investigated and possibly what do they do to senators kickc themout?? send them to jail??
This letter puts it together in terms of violence in just one area of the country in just three years, and makes the poin that we not only need gun control but that we must disarm as clearly and concisely asnything can. Disarm the general public and the police and the world. Sadly, another mass shooting will only lead more of us to be or want to be armed.
So try other tactics. Don't call:
1) Make an in-person appt. This takes planning and more effort but don't forget you are paying them. Insist on an appt and don't stop until they give you one.
2) Show up at their office without an appt. Bring food, water, a book. Ask to meet with someone and don't move until they see you or give an appt. Get a gold star: show up with a few neighbors or friends.
3) Show up at their public events, maybe when he visit FIU? Get on their mailing list and you will hear where/ when they show up. Now you get to ask a question, pin them on an item in a public venue where they are forced to give an answer. Bonus points: get someone young and cute to represent your point of view so they get called on/ are caught off guard to answer your searing question. Bonus round: plant several people in the audience to increase your chances of getting called on.
Take effort and dedication but then most things which are worth it do. Make it a game: Citizen lobbyist bingo anyone?
Unfortunately, Rubio is one of the slimiest snakes in the swamp. If there's no money in it for him, he won't do scheisse. Little Marco, I SERIOUSLY doubt you have the courage to read the comments here (or even the column, for that matter) but just in case: If you were my child, my shame would be limitless. You are a repulsive, selfish person who doesn't care about others.
49
Amazing how these words, which once would have been thought extreme, today are just an accurate description of a typical Republican politician, I.e., one of those people who have made lying a way of life by putting Donald Trump in the White House.
1
Rubio is one of many who says that laws will not stop gun killing. By his hypocritical logic, he should propose removal of all laws regarding murder, robbery, fraud, rape since we still have these crimes committed in spite of laws
against them.
103
Florida has already decided that prayers are more important than stopping people from owning guns......the rest of the world is laughing at us for this gun accessibility that allows people to own these assault weapons for what they claim is hunting purposes......is it hunting but then why not allow people to hunt with cars, and tanks......the prey will not care how they die.but target practice? Come on how is that going to improve your shooting ability when you can spray an area indiscriminately.
Shana. Thank you. Like all the of the readers I am very very grateful for your candid exposure of the office protocol of Mr. Rubio.
I have volunteer hundreds of hours for democratic causes. And as a union activist I did a lot of work. And have had experience with politician offices similar to yours. Only after I complained once saying "I can see this is democracy in action" I did get a phone call from the secretary.
We all are here hoping you may run for office. I will probably volunteer for you.
Like another reader says "any time money is involved" you cannot count with help from a Republican.
59
Ms. Rosenthal is a credit to her generation; Senator Rubio is an NRA gelding. I doubt that Ms. Rosenthal will receive a direct answer, but I trust that her letter will make Sen. Rubio sweat as the ground shifts under his boundless ambition.
89
I can't agree more with Gleason (and other readers) about Ms. Rosenthal. My confidence and pride in this generation has been stoked not only by her—but but also by all the students who have spoken and/or acted with so much courage, passion, and intelligence. Each time I listen to them or read reports of their rallies, I weep—tears of grief, of course, but also tears of profound hope.
31
Shana, your letter was pointed, personal and inspiring. Thank you for boldly seeking to hold Senator Rubio to the standard he pledged when he took the oath of his office. This movement is birthing the next generation of compassionate leaders. People who don't want to be like the Marco Rubios of the world. If you know Rubio is unlikely to act, run for office and be that politician who is responsive to her constituents and to humanity. We need women and men to take the mantels from those who believe they are accountable to no one or to those who can pay their price for representation. We live in a democracy. It is a participatory form of government. It operates best when each person actively participates through voting, understanding how government does and should operate and holding elected officials paid by our tax dollars accountable for everything they do and say irrespective of party. You can be the politician you hoped Rubio would be. Run for office. Put your stamp on your government.
51
While no one knows precisely how many assault weapons are privately owned in the US, I have read estimates of several million. Obviously, sale-related restrictions won’t reduce the number. A buyback program is needed. The NRA will suggest that illegal owners wii not participate in the buyback so that only criminals will be left owning such weapons. How do you propose to deal with that problem?
7
First solve one problem, then solve the next, then the next, then the next. There won't be a single universal solution to this problem it will be a series of them with goal to reduce gun violence. This problem is there for all of us to solve.
5
In addition to stricter gun laws, Australia held a buy back program. Let's look at Australia and other countries who have successfully cut down on gun violence and the number of guns. Why reinvent the wheel if we already have examples of how it can work?
2
Voluntary hand-in/buy-back by a set date. Failure to abide becomes a criminal action and full prosecution. Easy.
1
Mark my words: NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. There will be no real legislation on gun control in Congress. Unless citizens become one-issue voters. Unless elected officials start losing their jobs over this one issue, NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL WILL HAPPEN! Mark my words.
19
Negative thinking is rarely conducive to attaining a goal. Doubt in one's goal turns people away from even attempting to work toward it. Time is up on such "realism". Despite such negativity, the families of Trayvon Martin, Sandy Hook students and educators, Gabby Giffords' staff and constituents, the Mother Emmanuel prayer group, Parkland students and educators, and of too many other victims all continue to organize and raise their voices. Fear and negativity must stop. We must assert that our right to live peaceful lives is truly constitutional, unlike Scalia's misinterpretation of the second amendment.
6
Focus on the word "unless." My statement is not negative. It's realistic. And it's a call to arms.
That is it. The alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end. A skunk cannot change his stink. A Republican will not oppose the NRA. The only good Republican is a defeated Republican.
1
What I would like to ask Sen. Rubio - who I do believe is intelligent - and other legislators who believe that regulating or banning assault rifles somehow is in conflict with the second amendment is this: By what rationale and under what authority do you allow the US government to forbid me to own a fully automatic rifle? You are infringing upon my rights as a US citizen guaranteed by the explicit writing of the second amendment. If bad guys are going to shoot semi-automatic rifles, than I as a good guy should be able to use a fully automatic one to protect myself. How about it Mr. Rubio?
9
Scalia and you both have twisted the second amendment for a political purpose. The right to life is paramount. People good and bad running around with guns, especially those designed for combat, are endangering a peaceful society.
2
How is banning automatic high capacity rifles designed only for the mass murder of humans in any way infringing on your rights to own a weapon? You don't need one. Our society doesn't need them. You can still have your hunting, recreational and self-defense weapons. Just not a killing machine that serves no purpose other than localized warfare and mayhem.
The Constitution's Second Amendment doesn't trump the Preamble's guarantee of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
...or rocket launchers, or tactical nuclear weapons...?
1
It was anti-war activists (primarily young people of my generation) who helped drive Lyndon Johnson out of the 1968 presidential race and later convince Congress to abolish the draft. Once again, young people have found a cause. Hopefully they will force a corrupt Congress to address gun violence in a meaningful way.
I looked up Senator Rubio's major sources of campaign funding in recent years. The NRA is not even listed. I suspect that a variety of independent political action committees pay for those obnoxious gun rights television ads that appear before Federal elections, helping to bring out the Republican vote. Firms in the securities industry are among Rubio's largest financial backers.
The US Supreme Court did a great disservice to the American people by supporting virtually unlimited Federal election campaign contributions in the Citizens United decision in 2010. Our Federal elections are for sale. Why worry about the Russians?
34
I think the only way to change the gun laws it will be necessary for citizens, enough of them, to vote the majority of Republicans out of office, and even then I am not sure it would happen. I know it will not happen with Republicans because too many of their base are passionate believers in guns, lots of them and all kinds including military style assault weapons, for everyone. Individual Republicans will never be elected in a primary campaign if they are anti guns (and every law infringing gun possession of any kind is interpreted as "they want to take your guns away"). A Republican opponent will rise up against them and demagogue the issue. It is less likely that Democrats will have an opponent in their primaries to demagogue the issue.
11
How do you eat an elephant? One piece at a time. Just try to make forward progress. This problem has had years in the making it will have years before it is solved but take steps on after another on that journey.
4
I lost my niece in the shooting. The following Florida politicians have had the decency to call my brother and offer condolences: Gov. Rick Scott, Senator Nelson, and Congressman Deutch. Senator Rubio has not called yet.
73
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I just want to point out though, that Governor Scott is the recipient of an "A+" rating from the NRA. He's going to run for the Senate, and will receive plenty of $$ from the NRA, either directly or from PACS they fund secretly.
I am sorry for your loss and the lack of decency on behalf of Senator Rubio. How absolutely disgraceful. Please know all of America is mourning with you.
1
I can talk to my toaster, and I'll never get toast.
Your sincerity and heart are not doubted, Ms Rosenthal. As you interned for the GOP Senator, I can understand that your belief system rejects "Republican officials are NRA robots".
But they are and they follow programming; or they are challenged in primaries by the NRA-funded, RIGHTER wing-dings. Even if they win primary & defeat their Democratic opponent, they will be ostracized by the GOP and will get nothing for their district.
The NRA is the Absolute Control Mechanism that enforces Mega-Donors' agendas within the GOP. An NRA Grade of "A" means "Absolutely" controlled.
When Rubio outputs "A" response, I just smell burnt robot toast. Interestingly enough, the Rubio toaster's eject button is found on THE VOTING MACHINES at primary and general elections.
18
Thank you for your piece.
Might I add that to your list that Rubio —or any member of congress propose and pass a bill to undo Citizens United. It is high time that corporations and dark money like that from the NRA get out of politics. Call your reps and demand they pass a bill to end Citizens United now!
39
Bravo, Ms. Rosenthal. I hope that Senator Rubio and all U.S. Senate and House opponents of gun control are listening.
These mass shootings must stop. They should have stopped years ago. How many more innocents must die before Congress acts?
23
Ms Rosenthal, thank you for writing this and, New York Times, thank you for publishing it so that more may see it.
As you yourself have noticed, writing is not all that effective in gaining the attention of a busy politician in Washington. I have heard it is more effective to call the DC office of the politician and still more effective to arrange a constituent meeting with the politician. So may I suggest you and your parent and neighbours in Parkland travel to Washington and visit Senator Rubio in his office and ask him directly what he will do to prevent further gun violence in the US. On your way back, you could also visit your state representatives in Tallahassee and tell them about your meeting with Senator Rubio and ask them what they will do to prevent gun violence in Florida. Remind them that Florida can be a model to your neighbours to the north and west.
15
Begging a Republican to have a heart when money is at stake?
My one reservation about banning bump stocks is that I think that it would make a very good name for our president.
In a great many ways, President is fittingly called Bump Stock.
I oppose the device, not the term. And will forever think of Donald Trump when I hear the word Bump Stock.
By the way, did you see President Trump bump stocking over to his green helicopter the other day?
13
Shana:
Over the course of his political career, Marco Rubio has received over $3 MILLION from the NRA. I submit you are wasting your time, clearly, he loves the money more than his country. If you wish to support a candidate, choose one that will listen and have the commitment to make the necessary changes, not lipservice.
You can be pretty sure that candidate won't be a Republican.
45
thank you for your commentd. I have volunteer hundreds of hours
s for democratic candidatos (obama kerry and other locales) with $0 pay.
those that work for republicana get paid. all that counts is $$$$.
So yes any issue for republicans has to do with $$$$$$.
1
Senator Marco Rubio stated in response to questions about assault weapons following last week’s Florida carnage: “The Genie is out of the bottle regarding assault weapons!” Some people may sincerely agree with this position, and others may use it as rationalization for doing Nothing about assault weapons. Doing Nothing is unacceptable. What can be done can include the following.
1. Do not enlarge the Genie, and better yet, slim it down. Prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacturing and importation of Assault weapons.
2. Require the registration and licensure of all existing assault weapons.
3. Reward the surrendering to authorities of existing assault rifles by payment of three times the last retail pricing of such guns.
4. Penalize the failure to register the assault weapon with a fine of three times the last retail pricing of such guns when found to be unregistered as of a fixed date. After payment of the fine, allow the owner to retain the weapon if registered immediately thereafter. Failure to pay the fine and/or register immediately would mandate surrendering of it to local authorities.
It is publicly available information today to know that one’s next door neighbor is or is not a registered sex offender, even if such may have arisen by consensual sex between older teenagers.It could be more beneficial for someone to know if that neighbor owns an assault weapon.
28
I agree 100%. It's time for Rubio to lead. DOES HE HAVE THE COURAGE?
Maybe he needs a lesson from the kids at Marjory Stoneham Douglas. THEY HAVE COURAGE.
24
He does not. We know this already.
Shana: Thank you for writing this eloquent piece.
Everyone: Please vote in November!!
41
Thanks for mentioning research. If a politician is against research on gun violence he has shown that he values NRA dollars over his countrymen’s lives. If Congress allocated $2B a year to CDC and NIMH for gun violence research I’d give them a break for their not doing anything else constructive - a failure you can count on.
15
Dear Shana: Thank you for your thoughtful and moving contribution to the national conversation that our country needs to have.
As someone who has been active in "citizen politics" most of my adult life, part of me needs agree with some of the commenters that unfortunately, your persuasive letter will likely fall on deaf ears (and might not even be read by the Senator). But that's only the frustrated/cynical side of me, angry and burned out after many years of fighting for what's right.
But the other side of me agrees with the commenters who offer you encouragement and fortitude to keep fighting. Here's why....
When I'm invited to give talks about political activism, someone inevitably asks: "How do you keep fighting when it seems so hopeless? Why risk so much for a lost cause" My answer:
Some people do get burned out, and they stop fighting. But there will always be a next generation to continue what they started. However, the ones who stopped fighting (or perhaps pass away) before victory matter just as much as the ones fortunate to see (or even spur on) the victory.
There were people who did what Rosa Parks did before she did it; they suffered a price, and have been forgotten to history. Even MLK never lived to see his dream fulfilled. But neither Parks nor MLK could've become who they became without all the nameless/forgotten fighters who laid the groundwork before them.
So Shana, keep fighting. You are making a difference, even if we might never know it.
23
As someone also active in politics for the last decade, when I see someone burning out, I tell them to savor the small victories, expect things to take a while (and rejoice when change happens quicker than you think), and recognize that only in retrospect do we realize which actions, small or large, made a big difference. Also, what you see today might not be the same tomorrow: a politician reached out to me recently because many of their constituents, one by one, individually called them about a specific issue over time and they finally understood why it was important. Your actions could be laying the groundwork for future actions and activists. Be confident: in 6 years, I went from a nobody to being asked by the federal government for advice on my specific issue.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
12
Unless and until we federally fund campaigns for federal office, and ban all contributions to those campaigns, we will have The Best Congress Money Can Buy. And it's blood money, all of it.
If not kids being killed in mass shootings by automatic weapons, whose existence is funded by the NRA and weapons makers, then it's military personnel lost in ill conceived foreign battles, which serve principally to enriched the defense establishment.
Automatic weapons should be illegal; a felony requiring mandatory prison terms. Australia did it, we can, too.
Hiding behind the second amendment? The founders weren't talking about assault weapons, they were talking about state's rights to form State Guards, out of fear for federal takeover. And the technology of the day was muzzle loaders, with a rate of fire around 1 round per minute, not 20 rounds a second.
There is no excuse. It's time to challenge and reject those weak willed, lilly-livered congress people who allow this slaughter to continue. These deaths are on them. And on us, if we fail to vote them out!
27
Thank you and bless you, and bless the NYT for printing this. Rubio will not listen, I am increasingly certain that he lacks basic humanity. You, however, lack nothing. Brave, thoughtful, concerned, caring. We need you and others like you, and we are all indebted to you for using your voice. Stay Strong
1
Congress people like Marco Rubio (and Trump) have obviously sold their souls to the NRA. If Marco any many other Congress people didn’t show up for a job they would be fired.
We can’t settle for anything short of getting guns under control.
Please be sure to vote for candidates who support sensible gun laws.
18
Senator Rubio has demonstrated nothing but equivocation and obfuscation in response to this profound, human crisis.
I beg you, Senator, prove the expectations of this wonderful young person wrong: do the right thing, and stand up to the NRA.
8
A powerful and eloquent message, Shana. But we've heard so many similar pleas before.
Senator Rubio is an empty vessel — bereft of all morality, courage and leadership — which the NRA is all too happy to fill with empty platitudes: "It's too soon to discuss gun control"; "Thoughts and prayers are with [insert community]"; "We don't have all the facts"; "Gun control wouldn't have prevented this shooting"; repeat ad infinitum.
21
a few thoughts come to mind as I read this excellent piece...
1) I don't believe well written opinions or words will change anything...Mr. Rubio is paid by the NRA to protect their interests
2) Mr. Rubio is elected a fanatical republicans in FL (I'm from there too) to protect their religious zeal for guns
3) Mr. Rubio walks through metal detectors every day to work so he doesn't fear what we fear
So...money, political risk and no fear that one day this carnage will be personal to him or his family means very little with change, yet again.
I agree with your suggestions but instead we should
1) prevent special interest from buying OUR representatives
2) convince our republican friends that guns are a public health problem, like opioids- both will define our generation
3) remove metal detectors from the public meeting places where politicians do their work
23
To all the commenters telling Shana that Marco Rubio doesn't care -- she already knows. She spent five months watching him not show up to his office. She feels doubtful he ever read the log book it was her job to maintain.
But that's beside the point. SHE cares... enough to write him an impassioned letter (and getting it in the NY Times!) imploring him to do his job, and wishing for "a change from" him if he meets her justifiably low expectations and fails to do that.
As we've seen in the past week, Shana is one of many admirable young adults speaking eloquent truth to power. They may not have experience fighting a corrupt political system, but a year or two from now that will no longer be true.
A lot of young people are planning the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. and other satellite locations on Saturday, March 24th.
http://time.com/5167102/march-for-our-lives-parkland-school-shooting-pro...
Join them. They're seizing this moment with a vise-grip. In gratitude for their taking the lead on this issue, we older, more jaded folks owe them our solidarity, our support and our presence.
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Agreed. I would love to see Shana Rosenthal someday hold Mark Rubio's office.
22
It’s the money, Shana. Until we find a way to push through some minimal campaign finance reform, we are swimming upstream against the vast addictive contributions of the NRA.
Still, I hope these voices raised, like yours, translate to votes. Let’s get rid of those willing to sell out the will of the voters for the cash of their funders— despite the impact of all that slick advertising they’ll be able to buy. Remember this moment in November.
21
Shana,
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge
Press On Shana!!
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hi I have a high ego. nos I know why my hundreds of hours studying until 2 am up st 6 (I worked And studied). snd very good grades never got me m
much $. ,unrewarded genius.....
thank you So much. I will keep And print your commentd.
Shana,
Don't be discouraged by people here who have given up. Yes, you can vote, but I have another idea. Our country need your eloquence, logic and passion. Run for office yourself.
56
Thank you Shana.
This letter does NOT fall on deaf ears because Rubio isn't the only one who is reading it. Keep writing, keep speaking, and keep fighting. This Quaker believes in you and is appreciative of the truth you bring.
Thanks NYT for finding this gem and publishing!
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Thank you Shana Rosenthal. Your heartfelt words do not fall on deaf ears. Whether or not Senator Rubio ever reads your letter, I, an ordinary American in another state, have read it, and am inspired that you have found your voice. Countless other ordinary Americans will read it, and also be inspired. And some of us will say to ourselves: this young person took action — now how can I take action? And countless young people of your generation will also find their voices and take action. I am cheering you; keep going! You are bringing us closer to the day when America will finally we decide that we love our kids more than we fear the gun industry. And our basic humanity will prevail.
43
I appreciate Shana's efforts and her sincerity. I see the young people at the school where this unspeakable mass shooting occurred, and it gives me hope. I'm afraid the appeals to the Republican politicians are misplaced though. Sen. Rubio has received more than $3.3 million from the gun lobby during his career. The Florida legislature is unwilling to even debate serious gun control measures, as we saw today. This after 17 people were slaughtered a few days ago. Rubio and the rest of the Republican politicians say it's too early to discuss gun control or other legislation that will lessen the chance to stop the killing. The problem is that they will never want to discuss it because there is another mass murder every month or so.
In the 2015-2016 election cycle alone, all GOP candidates took $17,385,437 from the NRA. Republicans will "discuss" the little stuff, but they won't even do the little stuff. They are bought and paid for by the NRA. The gun problem is getting worse every year because bought and paid for Republicans stop anything that will stop the killing. They say "show me something that will stop it." Look at Australia.
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Trump accepted a $21 million "paycheck" from the NRA before gaining office and an additional $30 million worth of ads funneled through NRA but possibly paid for by the Russians. If enough people push for change these cowards will have to pass and fund sensible gun safety measures--or be retired from office.
14
NRA funds a distorted interpretation of an anachronistic 2nd amendment that gives individuals & private militias to "bear arms" in public space without the founders state regulation.
5
I really hope you are correct, Ann.
My generation owes your generation a big apology.
We should have done more after Columbine, and we should have demanded more from our elected officials when they just brushed us off and sent us their "thoughts and prayers"
We should have been more vocal, been more persistent, and voted the NRA's "A" rated politicians out, before these shootings became normal.
I'm glad that you are speaking out and insisting upon change.
I'm sorry that we have failed you.
But I am very proud of you.
74
Thank you Ms. Rosenthal. What a well though out, written, passionate letter!!
16
This past Sunday, Marco Rubio stated on television that "there are millions of [AR-15's] in the street already. They’re here to stay. The genie’s out of the bottle” and so there is nothing to be done.
But Nikolas Cruz didn't use one one of those millions of weapons "in the street." He didn't make a shadowy exchange in a back alley, or break open someone's gun safe. He used the rifle he bought, all new and shiny, just for himself, legally and without restriction, because he could.
What you hear from Rubio and his ilk is not abdication in the face of an insoluble problem, but collaboration in a crime.
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Marco Rubio is an elected official. He has his job because he won an election. You and other residents of his state should not even entertain the idea of "begging" him to do what you think is right. Got It?
If he doesn't represent your interests and concerns, get someone who will. It's just that simple.
To be blunt, I never cared for little marco.
28
Marco Rubio will fly whichever way the wind blows.. He's as light as a feather, morally.
I hope in this case his desire for attention and power will drop him incidentally the right side of the issue.
I only wish the winds for change were stronger.
16
The best way to change their behavior: MONEY. It's the only thing they truly understand. BOYCOTT FLORIDA, NOW. Their entire economy is driven by tourism. When the economy tanks, they WILL listen.
26
Dear Phyliss, A fantastic idea .. get 'em where it counts! It's always about the money. BOYCOTT FLORIDA NOW, indeed!
The students who demonstrate on the 24th should wear t-shirts that name and expose each senator and the amount that they received from the NRA. ........written in blood red color! On the back of the t-shirt they should have the name of all the students and others who have been slaughtered by mass killings.
Here’s the silver lining of this terrible event: your generation may have woken up about how to make a difference in American life. Continue to speak up and let your voice be heard. Mobilize. Motivate. Use your anger to make the changes that need to be made. And most of all, assert your power at the ballot box.
28
The only way to change Rubio's stance on guns is to pay him more than the NRA does. Marco has proved that he can be bought by the highest bidder.
13
Marco Rubio sounds like a real loser. Both as a human being and as a Senator.
He may get re-elected in an NRA bought state like Florida, but he can forget about national ambitions. His reputation is permanently ruined and can never be revived.
Unless - maybe - he introduces and promotes an assault weapons ban.
12
And Shana I hope you add outlawing assault weapons, which 65% of Americans now support.
These weapons are designed for one thing only: murdering human beings, including your fellow students.
Senator Rubio calls himself pro-family. Please keep the pressure on to put his words into action, protecting all American families from assault weapons, or elect someone in Florida who will.
21
That it is only 65% is still a shock. But 65% is enough, if they can be mobilized for every election. Vote singke issue in 2018 and 2020.
1
Little Marco: the size of his character is matched by the size of his soul.
Just saying.
14
Well said. However, as has been said in other comments, Senator Rubio is unlikely to be persuaded by your great letter. But this is a start, and my hope is that you influence others to get out and vote everyone who is on the NRA's giveaway A List out of office. That is when real change will come. In the meanwhile, Rubio will blame Obama, Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, the New York Times, the Democrats, mental health for the most recent massacre. After all, it was Rubio who said there was a silver lining this time because we caught the gunman alive and therefore he will be a specimen to study how we can prevent this from happening again.
7
As an American with two teens loving abroad, I thank my lucky stars my boys aren’t in high schools in the states. How messed up is that! Rubio, Ryan, McConnell, all congressmen and senators it’s time to do the right thing for all Americans and put tough sensible gun laws in place!! Do your jobs, protect our kids. It is a disgrace we continue with this mass shooting, no talking to respect the mourners, and then do nothing! ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Do what you know in your hearts and minds to be the right thing or get out of the government!
11
Betsy .. I like the "get out of the government" part the best. Great idea!
I contacted Rubio’s office in anger over his thoughts and prayers response to Parkland, fully aware that an intern would be as close as it would come to his attention. I suggested that whoever read my email consider whether Rubio was worthy of their allegiance. He and all the politicians like him, regardless of party, are not. They are feckless, bought frauds. Even now, he pontificates and obfuscates. I also see that he is sweating.
15
Well written, but unless you stapled a large check to the letter, you can be certain it ended up in the same file as all those constituent comments you dutifully recorded:
"No donation. Do not read. To be shredded".
9
Thank you, Shana, for writing this; and thank you, NY Times, for publishing it and the work of other young people in Florida who are saying #Enough. Now is the time to turn words into action. Protest in person; march; vote. And make sure everyone you know who will be 18 by Election Day registers as soon as possible this year. And then remind/help/urge them to go to the polls in November. BTW, if college students who sympathize with your cause were to boycott spring break in Florida and spring formal weekends in Florida, that would send a strong message of support to the high school kids AND put a scare on your state legislators. How about a break to march on Washington instead of Ft. Lauderdale?
266
Actually Ft. Lauderdale - not far from this shooting - is no longer the center of spring break acticvity. Much of it now occurs further north in Daytona Beach, Clearwater and Panama City (MTV). Southern Florida is more Democratic, Northern Florida more solidly Republican and it is the latter that prevents any sane gun regulation. Money talks - that's why Floridians, depending upon their politics, are either proud or ashamed that we have the best politicians that the NRA can afford to buy. So various boycotts might be effective - remember what happened in North Carolina. Another poster suggested pressuring Amazon to not consider Florida for its new headquarters. I hate to see innocent businesses lose money from a boycott but it's better than seeing fellow Floridians, especially children being slaughtered.
17
what a great suggestion!
1
Shana, thank you for writing. Thank you for educating us about what you have endured in your young life. I trust that your generation will be able to do more than my older one yet I am not giving up. As other writers have said, time to start organizing young adults to VOTE. Register to vote, new generation, register to vote and when the time comes, Vote.
14
Thanks for writing that, Ms. Rosenthal. The older people in this country haven't been able to do anything about gun violence in this country, but I think thanks to people like you, the next generation may finally be able to effect change.
31
Marco Rubio received $90,205 in campaign donations from gun rights groups during the 2015-2016 campaign cycle and received an "A+" grade from the NRA.
Marco Rubio has received $3,303,355 over the course of his career as an elected official.
Marco Rubio needs to be publicly shamed as a representative of the National Terrorist Association.
Rubio and his NRA-Guns Over People Congress helped make a national shooting gallery out of our schools, theaters, and sidewalks.
Marco Rubio helped make the AR-15 a popular weapon of mass murder.
Marco Rubio is another phony ‘religious’ Republican bankrupt phantom of a human being.
426
That was very well said and researched Socrates. Real change will only come when we send a clear message to all politicians that Americans will not put up with this gun nonsense.
19
After the Las Vegas assault weapon gun slaughter, Marco 'I don't give a damn' Rubio tweeted:
“I’m praying for all the victims, their families, and our first responders in the #LasVegas #MandalayBay shooting.”
Thoughts, prayers, funerals for Marco's constituents.
$3,303,355 from the National Terrorist Association for Marco Rubio's political campaigns to Make Guns Great Again.
Marco Rubio's hypocrisy is subhuman.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/04/opinion/thoughts-prayers-...
36
There's no shaming shameless. Marco always does what's best for Marco. He has higher aspirations and three million from the NRA is only a drop in the bucket.
3
Perhaps the Senator will consider his children, all our country's children, and his conscience, and do the right thing. Enact gun control nationally as strict as Connecticut's, minimally. Even if it means LOSING the next election, or NOT RUNNING for the Presidency. Your soul is more important than your career success, Senator Rubio.
30
I hate to tell you this but the politicians don't care. They are only motivated by money and power. If you want to get them to move you have to play their game. You need leverage. Make a public statement asking Amazon to remove Miami from consideration for the relocation os its 2nd headquarters. Thats $5 billion of leverage right there. Also ask other businesses not to do business in the state of Florida until there is a ban on assault weapons. Ask businesses in the state to consider relocating to a state where there is a ban on assault weapons. If you're going to make a difference you need to do it quickly before you go off to college. The politicians are going to stall everything they can to take away your influence by waiting you out.
85
All true. I must add though that for some reason, politicians don't like people in the streets. I remember thinking that the Vietnam protest marches were futile. When my parents marched I knew it was over. We must push all buttons
5
Rubio is on the NRA payroll. He has received tons of money from them. He says that nothing could have prevented the Parkland murders. That's just a lie. If assault weapons were banned, it would be a good start and it WOULD have prevented the murders. But Rubio sends prayers and condolences as he's busy cashing NRA checks and running interference for them. Scott and Rubio have Parkland's blood on their hands - as does every politician who refuses to support a ban on weapons of war from our streets and schools. Bless the brave kids who are now leading the charge for gun control. God knows cowardly politicians like Rubio and Scott and the Florida Legislature will never do it.
125
Shana, your voice matters and your letter gives me hope. Speak up and speak out and use your voice to shape a new future. A future without assault rifles. Kids in schools that are safe. I believe in you and your generation who can change all this for good.
73
You are an amazing woman. Thank you for your powerful writing. I have a suggestion. Start by working to change Florida. Start organizing a boycott of Florida orange juice along with Florida vacation spots including beaches and theme parks. The Europeans will be happy to boycott. Many who live in blue states will be willing to boycott. And maybe young people living all over the country will be willing to boycott. When reasonable gun laws are finally passed in Florida, we can move on to other states (or maybe act in parallel). If young people refuse to go on vacation to florida or drink orange juice, they will get their message through. Grab 'em by the wallet and their hearts and minds will follow.
160
Florida's laws on guns are crazy. Many states require no background checks, no waiting period, no registration for private sales, no restrictions on gun owners accused of domestic violence (a killer of both women and police who come to investigate) or bearing restraining orders. Some states permit guns to be brought into the parking lots of banks! When Georgia's GOP-led legislature passed a law allowing guns to be openly carried into airports, that was it for me. If we can hit states in their pocket books, maybe we can start to achieve the sensible protections so needed.
10
Excellent ideas! Boycotts work & I wish we had a lot more of them.
1
Boycotting Florida is not a way to change laws. Think about how many jobs would be imperiled by this. The tourism and citrus industries employ thousands. You'd only be hurting them....many of whom support changes in gun laws/regulations just as much as you do. VOTE. That's how to affect change. Shana and her friends should focus on measures to get out the vote. Period.
1
Thanks you for putting this down on paper. I’m afraid Senator Rubio has been bought by the NRA..
92
Shana:
Your senator will give you his "thoughts and prayers"
Your senator will continue to take more millions from the NRA.
114
Keep your eyes on the prize. Ignore especially the people who call you 'young.' I think you and your peers might be our only hope.
193
True true. Who says our elected Representatives have to be old? The Rubios of our world are tone deaf parrots of their donor talking points. Let’s see some young on ballots.
Bravo. Well said. More people need to say this and more pols need to hear it.
49
There is only one answer that we the people have: VOTE. You can write letters forever, you can tweet forever, march forever, but unless we VOTE - and unless the young people who aren't of age yet rally to influence and inform those who should register and VOTE, nothing, nothing will happen. Keep speaking out young people! Keep informing those adults in your state with facts that help them vote responsibly. It may help light a fire under those who are complacent. Thank you Shana for your activism.
101
The young author may not have taken the required PoliSci 101 course - all politics is local - if you can't even get your Florida Politicos to consider an assault weapons ban then quit grandstanding about a national solution.
Fix your state and amaze the rest of America.
14
This is a powerful letter about just how bad things have become. AND how long this has been ignored. Shana, it is young adults like you who give me such hope for the future of this nation. Keep speaking out, we need your voice.
292
You want the senator to hear you? Vote. Make sure that everyone you know registers to vote. Make sure they go and cast their ballots. Get these people out of power. VOTE!
269
Well said Shana, but this will fall on deaf ears. Rubio has made no secret of being but a rubber stamp for the gun lobby’s bidding.
This is, after all, the man who, during his run for President, cut into his holiday time in order for do a photo op cradling guns.
When Rubio did an about face and decided to run again, after all, for his Senate seat, he did so in the wake of Orlando’s mass shooting. It is pretty curious that such a tragedy would awaken any sense of leadership in him, because his answer was to deflect from gun regulation. Rubio just said that he doubted they would have prevented the Pulse killings - as if he couldn’t bother to look at what might stop the next one.
And after last week’s tragedy, Rubio again expressed skepticism that weapons restrictions would help.
What a lame use of power. Rubio wants to be pictured at the scene of catastrophes, pretending to be a political hero without troubling himself to do anything significant.
248