A pro-gun, pro-Trump teacher who survived the Parkland, Florida, mass shooting has some words for the president

Ashley Kurth, a teacher who helped save dozens of students and teachers during the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School says she's had enough of empty platitudes in the wake of tragedies like these.
Kurth said of politicians who do little more than offer condolences after mass shootings: "We're tired of the 'We're sorry for your loss.' 'We're praying for you,'" according to the Daily Beast.
Kurth is a pro-gun voter who picked Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Trump singled out mental illness in his address to the nation after the shooting. Kurth said: "Please stop making it a mental illness issue and acknowledge the fact that it is both a gun and mental illness issue."

A teacher credited with saving dozens of students and teachers during the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday says she is tired of politicians offering up words and nothing more after tragedies like the one that occurred at a high school there on Wednesday.

Ashley Kurth said of politicians who do little more than offer condolences after mass shootings: "We're tired of the 'We're sorry for your loss.' 'We're praying for you,'" Kurth said according to the Daily Beast.

Kurth is a pro-gun voter who picked Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Trump singled out mental illness in his address to the nation after the shooting. Kurth responded to that, saying: "Please stop making it a mental illness issue and acknowledge the fact that it is both a gun and mental illness issue."

On Thursday, Trump tweeted: "So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!"

Other lawmakers echoed the same. The response to the shooting followed a similar pattern as other gun-related massacres in the US — with offerings of prayer, thoughts, and condolences. Critics have called out the routine time and again, including highlighting which politicians received donations from gun-advocacy groups like the National Rifle Association.

For Kurth, words don't cut it anymore: “As educators, we’re taught that actions speak louder than words," she said. "And that’s what our community and all of us are crying out for: Actions need to take place to stop this from happening.”

A pro-gun, pro-Trump teacher who survived the Parkland, Florida, mass shooting has some words for the president

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