Steve Scalise Reflects On School Re-opening After Shooting

Congressman Steve Scalise is remembering the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, as they resume classes today, two weeks after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz went on a shooting rampage, killing 17 people. Scalise says today will not be easy for students returning to a place where such a horrific tragedy occurred.

“And I know there’s a lot of trepidation as they go back, so keep them in your prayers. I’m sure as they re-open that school, and think through and maybe re-live some of those experiences… that are going to be out there.”

The House Majority Whip from suburban New Orleans says he supports the proposal for teachers to arm themselves. Broward County Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson resigned after not taking appropriate action during the shooting. Scalise says it upsets him that Peterson didn’t do his job.

“I think what angered me the most, is that there was a sheriff’s deputy, trained and armed at the school, assigned to protect the school, and he hid out instead of protecting those students and confronting the shooter.”

Scalise is frustrated the FBI did not investigate Cruz after getting reports from others about his violent nature. He says the FBI was aware Cruz wanted to become a professional school shooter.

“The FBI had this guy’s name ‘on a silver platter’ and somewhere along the way, in the FBI’s chain of command, they let it go. I think we ought to ask those tough questions and hold people accountable.”

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