Two Republican political leaders -- U.S. Congressman Brian Mast and Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder, a former state representative -- will present their views and answer questions about stopping the threat of more school shootings at the annual dinner of the Martin County Taxpayers Association.
Mast’s unexpected and apparent change in position regarding gun control following the Feb. 14 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near where Mast once lived, has alienated some members of his own party and confused others.
Currently, Mast, a decorated military veteran, is the only Republican in the 2018 election showdown for the District 18 seat; however, candidates have until May 4 to file for the Aug. 28 primary.
With just one term under his belt, Mast’s committee appointments include the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade; and the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Fielding both praise and criticism from both sides of the aisle for his suggestion to ban military-style weapons, Mast can address the argument at the national level.
At the local level, after serving 30 years in law enforcement, 20 of them in the much more diversely populated county of Miami-Dade, Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder will tap into his own experience to tell us how we can keep our kids safe at school.
He will answer such questions as these: How do we spot troubled children? Is the real answer to safe schools arming teachers? How much will it cost us, the taxpayer, to keep our kids safe? Snyder also will interpret the new “safe schools” bill just signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
MCTA President Tom Kenny has asked residents not to hold back: “We hope ... you ... bring some tough questions of your own.”
The annual dinner will be at the Monarch Country Club, 1801 SW Monarch Club Drive, Palm City, from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, March 29. Tickets are $60 per person for members, $75 for non-members. Go to www.mctaxpayers.org to purchase tickets or join the MCTA on line. Seating is limited.
Barbara Clowdus is editor and publisher of Martin County Currents.
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