Minutes because thats theyll be focusing not only 17 victims in parkland, but the 13 victims in columbine that were killed in that 1999 shooting that really sparked this sort of awareness across the country. Andrea. Thank you, steve paterson. And the students at North High School in denver. We go to chicago, which is an hour earlier, rather an hour later, so they have already been out for an hour. Ron mott, a city rocked almost every day by violence in various neighborhoods but all reacting to what happened in florida. Ron . Reporter yeah, absolutely, andrea, good day to you. Im with young man from Leo High School here on the south side. You mention this is a daily problem here in chicago, gun violence. So these students who came out today, this rally wrapped up 10 minutes ago, those rally not just for those folks lost at parkland but all the people lost
daily basis in chicago to gun violence. Cash a, senior, what brought you out today and whats your message . I wanted to promote peace within the africanamerican community. Reporter dealing with ram i had gun violence. Fortunately we got new numbers as of tuesday down so far with number of homicides and shooting incidents in the city of chicago. So thats a step in the right direction. Kevin. You a junior. Whats your message today . You met with other schools . Pretty much to promote peace and show all kids in chicago arent bad and we dont go for violence. We just show them that peace can be in all our communities hand just up to us to keep it. Reporter and you can see here, show off the shirt here. This is a walkout for peace from reporter thats a great question. Ill pose to cash here. Andrea mitchell is asking the fact that klum Brian Williams th columbine happened 20 years ago before you were born, did not seem to awaken people as parkland did. Are you dispointsed it took all of those years and all those School Shootings for this to reach this point where young people are walking out of schools asking for ta change . Absolutely. Its a shame it had to get this far when it happened. But as you said before, the numbers are down, but still not enough. We have to continue with those numbers. Reporter what is it like going to School Every Day on south side of chicago where there is a lot of violence . Leo provided us with a safe place every day. We dont have problems of violence. When we do, we come together as brothers, and pretty much its like neighborhood keeps us safe. Leo, everyone knows leo is
school for brotherhood, peace and pride. So as kids we dont suffer from problems of violence. Reporter so unique perspective, this is generation grown up with School Shootings that have become, sadly, regular and normal in this country. But with this Parkland Shooting something seems to be different. Andrea. Thank you so much. Thank to cash and the other student there with you in the south side of chicago. And as we also keep looking at columbine and the memorial there of the students walking, im joined by shawn henry former assistants phish and Nbc National Security analyst. Shawn, this is a moment, we dont know if its going to lead to action. We still see resistance in the white house and on chiapitol hi. But the kids are creating new generation debate. They certainly are, andrea. Im inspired by a lot of what i see. I just came down fifth avenue
just about 30 minutes ago and i saw hundreds of students outside protesting outside trump tower. Clearly, what we look at across the nation today at what i this i is a galvanizing moment to see entire generation of kids standing up and saying this cant happen anymore. This is really referendum against gun violence, not just School Shootings. But in listening to some of those young men talking about chicago, since what we saw in parkland occur back on february 14th, there have been over 100 people shot in the city of chicago alone, many more across the country. And this is going to require a widespread reform. And a comprehensive plan. I think that to listen to these young people talking to legislators, talking to the leaders, the civic and community leaders, it really is about coming together in holistic way. And there are a number of this ings that need to be done. The Law Enforcement response is one component, but certainly a
lot more across the program, andrea. You know, shawn, it also occurs that the president initially was talking about raising the age limit, also responses now. Now he has retreated after a dinner with nra and retreated to Mental Health, bromides if you will, not that it needs to be done, but those resisting change. And also talking about Arming Teachers. What is your view about Arming Teachers . Well, i saw a piece on the news armed in a school accidental discharge. Fortunately nobody was injured. Shot went into the ceiling. But there needs to be a lot of thought put into that. I dont know that thats the answer. There is a lot that needs to be done to identify the threat and stop the threat. Part of it is the access to guns by people who shouldnt have
them. There are lawful citizens who have a right to weapons. But a lot of people that have hands on weapons that shouldnt have access to them. That is going to require some legislation. That is absolutely require thorough vetting for any one who wants to have a weapon. I think its going to require some more efforts from the Health Care Community and educational community. And quite honestly, andrea, from a societal prpic tierspective. Kids can play games and kill people online using virtual reality. I think its going to require comprehensive review and change the culture and really get some action that is going to have a widespread impact. Andrea. Shawn henry, thank you so much. And as we watch in columbine, the students are releasing balloons one at a time. Obviously, in memory of victims
of the gun violence. I want to bring in mariana In Washington d. C. Reporter andrea, here in front of capitol hill. And you can see thousands of students out here listening to the speakers, poets, lawmakers. I just spoke to one Law Enforcement official who told me there are at least 3500 students here participating in this rally today. They want to see change. They held their 17moinute momet of silence in the white house, turning their backs to the white house, and marched over here to Pressure Lawmakers in enacting the kind of change they want to see. Here are a few girls from National Cathedral school. Tell me what have you heard from lawmakers here . What do you want to hear . I want to hear what we as students can do going further. Not just coming to protest. Not just going to the march for
our lives on the 24th. What we can really do going further. I this i thnk the energy is gre here. But whats next . I think another important thing we heard today is they are listening to us. And some people stud up there, senators, saying you are the future and being heard. I know change is coming but to know they are listening and this makes an impact is really important for us. Reporter and dree pa as we were listening to you, they started listening among themselves receives with other protesters what more they can do. And you are actually from a different school. Im from Walter Johnson high school. Reporter and you chimed in and said this is what we can do. Yeah. So two things i was talking about, first, not only do we need to influence our politicians, what we need to influence corporations that we support financially. For example im so sorry for example, through walmart and dicks sporting good, just
because of the past few weeks they no longer sell guns in their stores. Based off of that if we have this many em showing support, Astronomically Higher Showing Support at the march, so many more corporations will follow. Reporter but following not only leg lislators, but also corporations. We have seen congress men, bernie sanders, they were excitesed excited to see. And all of these girls were excited to be on live with you, andrea. I love you. Thank you. Thanks to them. To the girls and Walter Johnson as well. I really love the fact that they are out there. And in parkland, florida,
joining me now. We have listening to students in front of the capital. They are talking about hearing from democrats. But republicans have not been speaking out for the most part. And the democrats are also today celebrating the likely election, a parent winner in the Pennsylvania 18th District which as you know is a democrat who Sports Gun Rights but is backgrounds checks. The lessons they feel candidates are more mainstream and red america, that could diminish support on capitol hill for tightening gun laws where relevan. Reporter well, andrea, i think some of the future for washington is standing right here. Good point. Reporter they are all
freshman in the school. And we are standing in front of what has become a memorial if you will. You see statues of angels, 17 of them representing 17 people who were murdered here just a month ago. I asked this young man what his thoughts were about even going back into the school. And what did you say . I didnt feel safe. Whenever i get out of school, i feel safer than i in school. Reporter and we were just talking about what does it mean beyond today in terms of legislative action . Do you expects leg lay shuislatl make a change as far as gun safety . I do think there is. But the parties dont agree on stuff, as you can see, our nation is very divided at this moment. And i feel like we should all get together. Because this isnt matter of parties, its just people, and as people we should all come together during this because this could be anybody that gets killed. Reporter and, andrea, the students have been saying that
these were freshman. But you dont feel that that means you dont have a voice. Is that correct . Yes. Reporter you do have a voice . Yes, we have a voice. Reporter is it a voice that your legislatures should be listening to . Yes. Reporter does it matter if democrat or republican . Flo. Reporter what do you want them to hear from you . We want them to hear that things need to change. Things need to change. Reporter is that what you are saying as well . Yeah. I do not feel safe in school at all. Like, think about it, he had a bunch of other bullets that could have been a bunch of other lives taken. All these 17 people were so innocent. They didnt deserve this. None of us need to have, to like feel unsafe anywhere that we go. We are all kids. We go to school for just trying to get an education, just trying to live our normal lives that we
have. Its parkland. You would never have expected it would have been our school. Reporter but it was your school. Exactly. Reporter now what are you saying . Does it go beyond today . Can you sustain this kind of energy into some legislative action . We wont stop fighting until something changes. Legislatures need to do their job. They work for us and not doing what we want them to do. 97 of americans believe in universal background checks. Its in the error of margin. We are to this point universally agree we need to do something in our nation, but none of our legislatures are going to do something. So well start until they do something. Reporter in florida your legislatures have done something. They passed a gun reform, measure that said they changed the age requirement for when someone can get a gun to 21 instead of 18. How does this make you feel quickly . Thats a start. Thats a step in the right
direction. But i dont think that really is as effective. Because the man in the poll shooting he was much older. I dont think its as much of age that matters. I think its who the person is, mentally, and like just the fact they are allowed to get a gun, like an assault rifle. And school is supposed to feel safe. Reporter every kid here, not just here, all they want to do is feel safe. And they are asking for the adults to make that possible. Back to you, andrea. In parkland. Thank you so much to all the young people joining you today. And joining me now to talk about the political fallout of this new movement, former pennsylvania governor, and Democrat NationalCommittee Chairman ed randle. And former republican National Committee chair. Welcome, both. As we continue to look at the pictures of this national out pouring. First to you, ed rendle, overnight, an election in the
pennsylvania 18th a parent election. Winner is someone in favor of gun rights. First campaign i covered in pennsylvania. 1968 saw the democratic very powerful incumbent senator joe clark defeated because he was calling for gun laws. If the democrats cant field a Candidate Calling for some controls on guns in red parts of your state, of pennsylvania, how is this ever going to get passed . Well, andrea, i think he is for universal background checks. Step in the right direction. I disagree with him with assault rifles. I disagree with him on high capacity magazines. What in gods name does someone need a magazine that has 50 bullets in a clip . Thats for killing in large numbers. And we have to make those against the law and enforce that law very strongly and carefully. But what i remind my Progress Friends and what i remind our students is unless a party that is bound and determined to bring up gun legislation, significant gun legislation, unless we are in the majority, we cant get anything through the house or senate floor. We have to be in a position of control. So if conor lamb election makes it more likely well control the house, if thats the case, good step for Gun Rightsment because if we vote on in the congress, if imagine a bill that didnt get enough votes in the senate and probably would have failed in the house, if that bill is brought to the floor today, it passes. It passes in might judgment by significant margins. Both the senate and the house. So thats a big step. Thats not a small step. Thats a big step. So we have to be in a position to control what gets voted on. Before i finish that thought and bring in Michael Steel as well, governor rendle, paul ryan is saying that the lessen to republicans, that its a warning sign, sure, that the lesson is you have to field candidates that the democrats have had to field candidate who was really spouting republican policies here and that it was not a clear win for certainly not for the Progress Wing of the democrat party. Account democrats pull together and bridge these divides coming up . What do you think real lessons are . I thought paul ryan has reputation of being smart guy. Thats one of the stupidest things ive heard. They are going to say most important vote lamb will make is the vote to have a new speaker who will control the democrat agenda and bring it to the floor and a new Majority Leader in the
not who will do the same thing. Doesnt matter. We need democrats to be in control of the agenda so these kids can get real relief so people who will stand up and cast a vote against assault weapons, weapons of war, vote of high capacity magazines. Vote maybe to only limit sales of guns one a month, 12 a year, thats plenty. Thats what we need. And conor lamb will deliver it, joe donnelly will deliver it, so i dont care if they are conservative democrats, this he are good that believe in lawful the message. Not necessarily all the things but believe in the core message. Thank you very much. And Michael Steel h republicans answer to conor lamb surprising victory. 20 point swing, 2016 election where that district went so favorably for donald trump. It was a massive wake up call. Two very important takeaways
from my assessment having done this dance in 2010 and various other times. Midterms are tricky. Midterms are tricky, thats a very key point to make. And the thing about last night, the two lessons i think the republican neither meads to it be aware of. One is republican voted against the republican nominee for the office. That attributes to the 20 point swing you are talking about. What does that say when base republicans are voting against the president s choice . The president himself maybe his agenda, whatever their political narrative may be, that clearly is something that needs to get addressed. And i dont think they are in a position to address it very clearly between now and november because of all the variables, firing of Secretary Of States, disrupp shuns here and there, all of that muddles the conversation. The second thing was how the democrats stayed out of their own way. They let Conor Lamb Run the
arrest he wanted to run. Eave been saying 20 years in this business. Particularly the republican party, let them run in the distribdi districts where you find them because they best reflect the people in that district. You cannot take someone from the northeast and run like from alabama and nor alabama from maryland. You saw that play out in pennsylvania last night in this district where conor lamb, yes, he was with republicans on certain issues. But he best reflected that district. And thats an important lessons for democrats and as wakeup call for republicans across the country now as long as democrats stay out of their own way. The president could not do more than going on saturday, giving one of his rip roaring rallies, Peter Alexander at the white house, many could argue he also did the aluminum and steel tariffs deliberately timed to
help him in that district. And none of that worked. Reporter thats right. I hear from those in the white house and close to the president the way they are framing this, the spin from the west wing as it were today, it would have been a wap op if the president hadnt been involved. That it was a five or six point loss for saccone before the president went out and made it matter of hundreds of votes. Remember that the president won 17 months ago, won this district by 20 points. So you ha