The Feb. 14 murders in Parkland, Florida, and the national movement that has followed on gun control are a product of the 150 other mass murders and no political action over the last decade. But will it make a difference in national, state and local elections this year and next? Will candidates listen?
My generation lost its innocence with the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Our fear was hand guns aimed at our leaders or in our neighborhoods. It was the Cold War era, and while we did practice getting under our desks in case of war, we felt safe at school. School was for learning, and we knew our parents wouldn’t send us to a place that was unsafe. Teachers and administrators looked after us, as they do today. We demonstrated against the Vietnam War and ran for public office to make a difference.
Today’s students practice “shooter on campus” escapes. They have become politically active at a younger age, and many feel strongly politicians must change or this generation’s future leaders may become current candidates and run for public office to replace them.
Last week, the next generation made us proud as they staked their claim to an adulthood that goes “back to the future,” where their future children can go to school in safety.
March 14 was designated as a day to remember the 17 victims in Parkland with students leaving their classrooms for 17 minutes, some marching a designated route, before returning to class. The message at several local schools was “enough is enough.”
There was a lot of good leadership in this effort by Federal Way Superintendent Tammy Campbell, School Board members, principals, teachers and parents as they set parameters for the students that respected their passion and rights while also holding them and their parents accountable for laws and rules. Students were treated like adults, and they acted like it. Good parenting showed through in their manner, commitment and leadership.
I watched the students from Lakota Middle School as they made their circuit with a quiet seriousness of purpose and respect for the moment. A motorcycle police officer watched from a distance with appreciation and no need to intercede. Cars stopped, it was silent and the few minutes were special.
But as I watched I wondered, will it make a difference? And how will the politicians react? In the media coverage, I didn’t see where any politicians joined with the students. But it was a work day.
The teaching moments for parents at dinner are significant and will help these young people learn lessons by talking of their fears and future.
There is a cultural divide regarding gun control, or this problem would have been solved years ago. Answer students’ questions; tell them how laws work and what role they can play.
This year and next, gun control should be a major topic for candidates. For the state Legislature, District 30 incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Miloscia is being challenged by School Board President Claire Wilson, who is a Democrat. This is rated a must-win race by both parties, and it will be high profile. Incumbent Democrat House members Kristine Reeves and Mike Pellicciotti are up as well. Reeves has an announced opponent, and Pellicciotti likely will. Gun control and safe schools will rank with education, transportation and taxes as big issues.
Next year, City Council seats held by Mark Koppang, Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Dini Duclos and Susan Honda are up for election. Duclos seems unlikely to run, and at least three residents are acting like candidates.
Student activists want to bring attention to their concerns and want permanent change. They want to ban assault rifles, raise the age level to buy a gun, require serious background checks and longer waiting periods. They want loopholes for gun shows closed.
Mostly they want national, state and local lawmakers to demonstrate that they care more about saving children’s lives than they fear the National Rifle Association.
One email I received from a parent said their child had asked for a bullet-proof vest for Christmas. Should any child ever be that frightened?
There will national marches Saturday, March 24, as students take their cause to the nation’s capital. In Federal Way, the students will march from Federal Way High School to Town Square Park.
It is a Saturday, no work. The challenge to local, county and state elected officials is clear. How much do you care, and will you join them?
Enough is enough.
• The intent of last week’s columnwas to hold Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell and the City Council accountable for their spending and proposed utility tax increase. But accountability goes both ways, and a correction is warranted. Contrary to Ferrell’s web post, I did contact his office to obtain accurate information but received minimal assistance and was referred to a Tacoma News Tribune website from 2016. Unfortunately, I printed some incorrect information. While Ferrell did hire an old friend as a senior adviser, it was for $116,150, not the $150,000 listed. And he did recently hire an additional clerical position in his office at $40,500. I thought the position was for an administrative assistant I or II, which have salaries starting at $50,000. Lastly, I transposed the city’s short fall of $854,000 and the amount to be raised by the utility tax, which is $980,000. I apologize to readers for any confusion.
The central point of the column remains accurate. City leaders blame decades-old issues for their financial problems and wanted to raise taxes in 2016. But they continued to spend money. The taxpayer subsidy for the PAEC will be $454,000 this year. Ferrell says the $300,000 I used to estimate the cost of his plan to get rid of the homeless is made up. That is not accurate. In 2016, Ferrell initiated closures of 13 homeless camps. His own staff estimated it cost between $30,000 and $50,000 in staff time to close each camp. The staff positions were filled as the column said they were. Spending money for four years, and continuing to fill positions in the mayor’s office, does not justify asking for a tax increase. The total amount of expenditures referenced exceeds what the city is now seeking from taxpayers through the Lakehaven Water and Sewer District.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn and retired public official. He can be reached at bjroegner@comcast.net.
