“I want to express the deep sorrow and anger we at National Council for Jewish Women feel in the wake of the catastrophic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Our hearts go out to the wounded and to the families of the 17 victims.

“It is morally reprehensible that there are legislators at the state and national level who are at this very minute trying to make it easier for more people to carry weapons in places where they don’t belong. They are actively working to loosen existing background check requirements that are already inadequate. They insist on defending the ‘right’ to carry an assault weapon developed for military use. These legislators must stand their ground against the gun lobby. The carnage and innocent deaths of children will not stop until ending gun violence becomes a litmus test issue for those running for office, and it is up to all of us to make that happen. NCJW will continue to do its part.”

“Parkland is a wonderful community and Stoneman Douglas is an amazing high school. These tragedies can occur anywhere and nothing is going to change unless lawmakers have the backbone to do something about them.

“No one in civilian life should have an AR-15 assault style weapon, least of all a 19 year old who has been expelled from school. As a school board member, my own daughter was really devastated, too. Everyone was thinking that it could be their own child or grandchild.”