Like many people throughout Florida and across the nation, I have been praying for those that were murdered or injured in Parkland as well as for their families and the community. Our hearts are broken for them. The grief and sorrow being experienced by this community is no doubt crushing to their souls and we should continue to lift them up in prayer as they live in the aftermath of this tragedy. We should continue our prayers for the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School family and for the Parkland community. We must also come to grips with how this tragedy happened and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.

For years I’ve traveled back and forth to Tallahassee attempting to have an impact on the legislative process. I’ve watched the way things have worked in Tallahassee and have become disgusted by it. The people of Florida have been shut out of the process. We have had our voices muffled and silenced. As one back room deal paves the way for the next back room deal, the people of Florida have continually footed the bill for pet projects, higher regulations (that we then have to live under), corporate welfare schemes and crony capitalism projects.