My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school”. This is what Donald Trump said after 17 people were killed by a 19 year old gunman , armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style assault rifle, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14th.

I don’t think that the parents and relatives of the victims, or their classmates, need Trump’s “prayers and condolences”. That’s far from enough. Those are just words, empty words, convenient words that amount to nothing.

President Trump, lawmakers and the US Congress should listen to those kids, the “survivors», who are now firmly demanding gun control. And they won’t be silenced. Nothing will stop them. They have grown up in less than 20 minutes. And they must be heard.

This leads us to the NRA (National Rifle Association) and its huge power and weight in American politics. Why does it protect the Second Amendment so strongly? Let’s bear in mind that the Second Amendment, adopted way back in 1791, protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. 1791-2018. Shouldn’t that be updated? Isn’t it high time? How many more lives will be lost until that anachronic Amendment is revised and changed?

Prayers are useless, Mr Trump. American kids need much more than prayers to stay alive.

Published on Buenos Aires Times