Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz has been spared the gallows. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Florida jury for carrying out the massacre at Marjorie Douglas High School which claimed 17 lives back in 2018.

Parkland Shooting Trial: Nikolas Cruz spared death penalty, sentenced to life in prison

A jury spared Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz from the death penalty for killing 17 people at a Parkland high school in 2018. The jury of seven men and five women returned their verdict after seven and a half hours of deliberations, following a 60-day trial.

Parkland Shooting Verdict: Florida jury spares capital punishment

A harrowing video of the Valentine's Day 2018 shooting at a high school in Florida that left 17 people dead was played at the sentencing trial on Monday of the troubled young man who admitted to carrying out the massacre.

Nikolas&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder for the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

A 12-person jury is to decide whether the now 23-year-old should receive the death penalty or a life sentence for what prosecutor Mike Satz called a "cold, calculated, manipulative and deadly" massacre.

"I'm going to speak to you about the unspeakable, about this defendant's goal-directed, planned, systematic murder, mass murder, of 14 children, an athletic director, a teacher and a coach," Satz said in opening arguments.

A cell phone video recorded by a student, Danielle Gilbert, was played for the jury. The audio was made available to the public gallery and reporters.

Screams, cries and moans were punctuated by multiple shots as students huddled in their classroom trying to seek cover from bullets coming through the door.

"This can't be real," someone was heard whispering.

Gilbert, who broke down in tears as the video was played, said one person was killed in the classroom and three wounded.

Cruz, who was wearing a black Covid mask, covered his face with his hands and stared down at the table in front of him as the video was played.

Several anguished relatives of the victims fled the courtroom while others wept openly and hugged their loved ones.

'Next school shooter'

Satz, the prosecutor, told the jury that three days before the shooting,&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;made a cellphone video in which he said &nbsp;"I'm going to be the next school shooter of 2018.

"My goal is at least 20 people with an AR-15 and some tracer rounds,"&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;said in the video. "It's going to be a big event and when you see me on the news, you'll know who I am."

Satz said that&nbsp;Cruz, after fleeing the school, ordered a drink at a Subway sandwich shop and then went to a McDonald's, where he asked the brother of a girl he had just shot for a ride.

The boy, who was not aware at the time that&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;was the assailant, declined.&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;was arrested shortly afterwards.

The trial in Fort Lauderdale is the rare instance of a mass shooter facing a jury, as they often either take their own lives or are killed by police.

The death penalty requires the jury to be unanimous.&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;will otherwise be handed life without parole.

The Florida shooting stunned a country accustomed to gun violence and sparked new efforts, led by students from the school itself, to get lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws.

'March for Our Lives'

Parkland survivors founded "March for Our Lives," organizing a rally that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the nation's capital, Washington, in 2018.

Thousands turned out for demonstrations organized by the group last month following two other mass shootings: one at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers, and another at a New York supermarket that left 10 Black people dead.

Those shootings helped galvanize support for the first significant federal bill on gun safety in decades.

President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in June but it fell far short of steps he had called for, including a ban on assault weapons.

Cruz&nbsp;bought the AR-15 semi-automatic he used in the attack legally, despite having a documented history of mental health problems.

Expelled from school for disciplinary reasons,&nbsp;Cruz&nbsp;was known to be fixated on firearms -- and had been identified as a potential threat to his classmates.

On the day of the attack, he arrived at the school in an Uber, began shooting indiscriminately at students and staff, and fled nine minutes later, leaving behind a scene of carnage.

A harrowing video of the Valentine's Day 2018 shooting at a high school in Florida that left 17 people dead was played at the sentencing trial on Monday of the troubled young man who admitted to carrying out the massacre.

A harrowing video of the Valentine's Day 2018 shooting at a high school in Florida that left 17 people dead was played at the sentencing trial on Monday of the troubled young man who admitted to carrying out the massacre. Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder for the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. A 12-person jury is to decide whether the now 23-year-old should receive the death penalty or a life sentence for what prosecutor Mike Satz called a "cold, calculated, manipulative and deadly" massacre. "I'm going to speak to you about the unspeakable, about this defendant's goal-directed, planned, systematic murder, mass murder, of 14 children, an athletic director, a teacher and a coach," Satz said in opening arguments. A cell phone video recorded by a student, Danielle Gilbert, was played for the jury. The audio was made available to the public gallery and reporters. Screams, cries and moans were punctuated by multiple shots as students huddled in their classroom trying to seek cover from bullets coming through the door. "This can't be real," someone was heard whispering. Gilbert, who broke down in tears as the video was played, said one person was killed in the classroom and three wounded. Cruz, who was wearing a black Covid mask, covered his face with his hands and stared down at the table in front of him as the video was played. Several anguished relatives of the victims fled the courtroom while others wept openly and hugged their loved ones. 'Next school shooter' Satz, the prosecutor, told the jury that three days before the shooting, Cruz made a cellphone video in which he said "I'm going to be the next school shooter of 2018. "My goal is at least 20 people with an AR-15 and some tracer rounds," Cruz said in the video. "It's going to be a big event and when you see me on the news, you'll know who I am." Satz said that Cruz, after fleeing the school, ordered a drink at a Subway sandwich shop and then went to a McDonald's, where he asked the brother of a girl he had just shot for a ride. The boy, who was not aware at the time that Cruz was the assailant, declined. Cruz was arrested shortly afterwards. The trial in Fort Lauderdale is the rare instance of a mass shooter facing a jury, as they often either take their own lives or are killed by police. The death penalty requires the jury to be unanimous. Cruz will otherwise be handed life without parole. The Florida shooting stunned a country accustomed to gun violence and sparked new efforts, led by students from the school itself, to get lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws. 'March for Our Lives' Parkland survivors founded "March for Our Lives," organizing a rally that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the nation's capital, Washington, in 2018. Thousands turned out for demonstrations organized by the group last month following two other mass shootings: one at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers, and another at a New York supermarket that left 10 Black people dead. Those shootings helped galvanize support for the first significant federal bill on gun safety in decades. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in June but it fell far short of steps he had called for, including a ban on assault weapons. Cruz bought the AR-15 semi-automatic he used in the attack legally, despite having a documented history of mental health problems. Expelled from school for disciplinary reasons, Cruz was known to be fixated on firearms -- and had been identified as a potential threat to his classmates. On the day of the attack, he arrived at the school in an Uber, began shooting indiscriminately at students and staff, and fled nine minutes later, leaving behind a scene of carnage.

Nikolas Cruz: Harrowing video aired at death penalty trial of US school shooter

The Justice Department will pay about $130 million to 40 survivors and families of victims of the 2018 massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, over the FBI’s failure to properly investigate two tips in the months before the shooting that suggested the gunman might open fire at a school.

One of the tips, six weeks before the shooting, detailed how the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, was posting on Instagram about amassing weapons and ammunition. “I know he’s going to explode,” the woman said on the FBI’s tip line, adding that she feared Cruz, then 19, “was going to slip into a school and start shooting the place up.”

Forty days later, Cruz did just that, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he had previously been a student.

The FBI acknowledged two days after the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting that it had received the tips about Cruz but had not investigated them in accordance with its protocols. Cruz, now 23, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder last month. He is scheduled to go on trial early next year. A jury will decide if he faces capital punishment or life imprisonment.

The Justice Department said in court papers that it was in the process of completing a settlement, without disclosing the amount. Two people familiar with the case said it would total about $130 million, though the precise number could change before the final agreement.

The revelation that the FBI had received information about the gunman ahead of the shooting devastated victims’ families and the Parkland community in the days immediately following the shooting. Fred Guttenberg was picking out a casket for his 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, two days after the shooting when he got an urgent call from an FBI agent working with the families. The agent delivered the difficult news.

“Are you telling me that if the FBI did not make a mistake and did their job a month sooner, my daughter would still be alive today?” Guttenberg asked the agent, according to the lawsuit Guttenberg and the 39 other families eventually filed against the bureau.

“I’m afraid so, sir,” the agent replied, according to Guttenberg.

Guttenberg and his wife, Jennifer Guttenberg, sued the FBI for negligence in November 2018 and were eventually joined by 39 other families. They argued that the shooting had been “completely preventable.”

The Justice Department will pay about $130 million to 40 survivors and families of victims of the 2018 massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, over the FBI’s failure to properly investigate two tips in the months before the shooting that suggested the gunman might open fire at a school.

The Justice Department will pay about $130 million to 40 survivors and families of victims of the 2018 massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, over the FBI’s failure to properly investigate two tips in the months before the shooting that suggested the gunman might open fire at a school. One of the tips, six weeks before the shooting, detailed how the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, was posting on Instagram about amassing weapons and ammunition. “I know he’s going to explode,” the woman said on the FBI’s tip line, adding that she feared Cruz, then 19, “was going to slip into a school and start shooting the place up.” Forty days later, Cruz did just that, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he had previously been a student. The FBI acknowledged two days after the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting that it had received the tips about Cruz but had not investigated them in accordance with its protocols. Cruz, now 23, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder last month. He is scheduled to go on trial early next year. A jury will decide if he faces capital punishment or life imprisonment. The Justice Department said in court papers that it was in the process of completing a settlement, without disclosing the amount. Two people familiar with the case said it would total about $130 million, though the precise number could change before the final agreement. The revelation that the FBI had received information about the gunman ahead of the shooting devastated victims’ families and the Parkland community in the days immediately following the shooting. Fred Guttenberg was picking out a casket for his 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, two days after the shooting when he got an urgent call from an FBI agent working with the families. The agent delivered the difficult news. “Are you telling me that if the FBI did not make a mistake and did their job a month sooner, my daughter would still be alive today?” Guttenberg asked the agent, according to the lawsuit Guttenberg and the 39 other families eventually filed against the bureau. “I’m afraid so, sir,” the agent replied, according to Guttenberg. Guttenberg and his wife, Jennifer Guttenberg, sued the FBI for negligence in November 2018 and were eventually joined by 39 other families. They argued that the shooting had been “completely preventable.”

Justice Department to pay about $130 million to Parkland shooting victims

A survivor of the Florida school shooting nicknamed "Iron Man" for his efforts to save classmates said he did not want to be labeled a "hero," as his family announced a lawsuit against authorities.

Anthony Borges, 15, was shot in both legs and the back by Nikolas Cruz, who opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14.

Despite his injuries, the teenager managed to shut a door, preventing the shooter from entering the room where around 20 students were hiding. In doing so, he was shot twice more.

"I don't know why I survived, but I will tell you that my family and I will dedicate the rest of our lives to seeing that something like&nbspthis never happens again," Anthony said in a statement via his lawyer, Alex Arreaza.

Anthony, joined by Arreaza, his father Royer Borges, his grandfather Alfredo and friend Carlos Rodriguez on Friday took part in a press conference in Plantation, north of Miami.

He entered in a wheelchair, and still recovering after nine surgeries and seven weeks in hospital, did not want to speak.

"I know I'm being called 'Iron Man.'&nbspI am not," he said in the statement. "I am a 15-year-old who was shot five times.

"I'm just a kid who wants to go back to school without being afraid."

Borges also accused Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and schools superintendent Robert Runcie of failing him, as they were unable to prevent Cruz from buying firearms and entering the school despite his erratic behavior.

"You know he was a problem and you did nothing," he said.

Arreaza, who had already announced the lawsuit against Israel and Runcie, said he would file "today or tomorrow" against them, Nikolas Cruz and the executors of Cruz's mother's estate.

"They damaged my son's soccer career," Royer Borges said, alleging it took 38 minutes for authorities to get to his son after he was shot.

The Borges family left Venezuela more than 15 years ago over political instability and fears over rampant crime.

"While we appreciate the efforts in Washington DC, Venezuela is a place where they have gorgeous marches with millions of people and nothing gets done," Arreaza said, referencing the March For Our Lives in March.

"(The family has) decided that they're going to put their faith in American justice system."

Anthony Borges, 15, was shot in both legs and the back by Nikolas Cruz, who opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14

A survivor of the Florida school shooting nicknamed "Iron Man" for his efforts to save classmates said he did not want to be labeled a "hero," as his family announced a lawsuit against authorities. Anthony Borges, 15, was shot in both legs and the back by Nikolas Cruz, who opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14. Despite his injuries, the teenager managed to shut a door, preventing the shooter from entering the room where around 20 students were hiding. In doing so, he was shot twice more. "I don't know why I survived, but I will tell you that my family and I will dedicate the rest of our lives to seeing that something like&nbspthis never happens again," Anthony said in a statement via his lawyer, Alex Arreaza. Anthony, joined by Arreaza, his father Royer Borges, his grandfather Alfredo and friend Carlos Rodriguez on Friday took part in a press conference in Plantation, north of Miami. He entered in a wheelchair, and still recovering after nine surgeries and seven weeks in hospital, did not want to speak. "I know I'm being called 'Iron Man.'&nbspI am not," he said in the statement. "I am a 15-year-old who was shot five times. "I'm just a kid who wants to go back to school without being afraid." Borges also accused Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and schools superintendent Robert Runcie of failing him, as they were unable to prevent Cruz from buying firearms and entering the school despite his erratic behavior. "You know he was a problem and you did nothing," he said. Arreaza, who had already announced the lawsuit against Israel and Runcie, said he would file "today or tomorrow" against them, Nikolas Cruz and the executors of Cruz's mother's estate. "They damaged my son's soccer career," Royer Borges said, alleging it took 38 minutes for authorities to get to his son after he was shot. The Borges family left Venezuela more than 15 years ago over political instability and fears over rampant crime. "While we appreciate the efforts in Washington DC, Venezuela is a place where they have gorgeous marches with millions of people and nothing gets done," Arreaza said, referencing the March For Our Lives in March. "(The family has) decided that they're going to put their faith in American justice system."

Florida school shooting survivor rejects 'hero' label

More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month.

&quot;Politicians, either represent the people or get out,&quot; Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington.

&quot;Stand for us or beware -- the voters are coming,&quot; said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the February 14 shooting at his school. 
Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities -- more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the &quot;March For Our Lives.&quot;

Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: &quot;These students WILL change America.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Amazing! Final NYC tally: 175,000 joined <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchForOurLives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchForOurLives</a>. And this is a movement that has JUST BEGUN. These students WILL change America!
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977641564171272192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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This movement is going to make a huge change in our country. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchForOurLives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchForOurLives</a> <a href="https://t.co/hknTXcVfTK">pic.twitter.com/hknTXcVfTK</a>
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977605992350285824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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You have to know when a revolution is starting... Today in NYC already 150,000 have taken to the streets for PEACE <a href="https://t.co/j5y0y0L3IT">pic.twitter.com/j5y0y0L3IT</a>
&mdash; Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/977598947412926465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000.

The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws.

&quot;The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons,&quot; Kasky said. &quot;The people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks.&quot;

March organizers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force.Signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby.

&quot;These kids are right,&quot; said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally.

&quot;They`re basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans,&quot; Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which also controls Congress.

The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing &quot;Rise Up&quot; and also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 2008. 
But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students.

Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz. 
Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out &quot;We`re with you Emma.&quot;

&quot;Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,&quot; Gonzalez finally said -- the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing.

&quot;Fight for your lives before it`s someone else`s job,&quot; Gonzalez said. &quot;Get out there and vote.&quot;

Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. brought many to tears with a surprise appearance.

&quot;My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character,&quot; she told a rapt crowd.

&quot;I have a dream that enough is enough,&quot; she said, referencing her grandfather`s famous 1963 &quot;I Have a Dream&quot; speech on ending racism.

&quot;And that this should be a gun-free world -- period.&quot;In New York, former Beatle Paul McCartney showed up at a march and spoke of the December 1980 murder of his bandmate John Lennon. 
&quot;Every week you hear about a new shooting and nothing is done about it,&quot; McCartney told AFP. &quot;But I think maybe after this something will be done about it.&quot;

On the other side of the country in Los Angeles, comedian Amy Schumer delivered a passionate plea in front of hundreds of thousands.

&quot;You are killing children,&quot; she said, of the gun lobby. &quot;And they call people like me `Hollywood liberals` like there`s something in it for us.

&quot;Well, what`s in it for us is knowing we`re doing our part to keep our children alive.&quot;

Demonstrations of solidarity also took place around the world, including across cities in Canada, which unveiled stricter gun laws earlier this week including enhanced background checks.

In Scotland, some relatives of those killed in a school shooting in the town of Dunblane in 1996 attended a protest in Edinburgh.

Thousands meanwhile gathered in Parkland to pay tribute to those slain in the city on Valentine`s Day.

&quot;I March Because I Was Almost Silenced,&quot; read a sign carried by Samantha Mayor, 17, who was shot in the knee and wears a heavy brace.

Samantha`s mother, Ellyn, held a sign reading &quot;I`m Marching So No Other Parent Has to Hear `Mom, I`ve Been Shot.`&quot;

Trump was in Florida as marchers gathered in Washington but the White House issued a statement.

&quot;We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today,&quot; it said. &quot;Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President`s.&quot;

The protests were spearheaded by teenagers from the Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month

More than a million Americans flooded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, protests spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month. "Politicians, either represent the people or get out," Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington. "Stand for us or beware -- the voters are coming," said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the February 14 shooting at his school. Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities -- more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the "March For Our Lives." Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: "These students WILL change America." Amazing! Final NYC tally: 175,000 joined #MarchForOurLives. And this is a movement that has JUST BEGUN. These students WILL change America! — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × This movement is going to make a huge change in our country. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/hknTXcVfTK — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × You have to know when a revolution is starting... Today in NYC already 150,000 have taken to the streets for PEACE pic.twitter.com/j5y0y0L3IT — Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 24, 2018 × But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000. The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws. "The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons," Kasky said. "The people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks." March organizers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force.Signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby. "These kids are right," said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally. "They`re basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans," Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which also controls Congress. The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing "Rise Up" and also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 2008. But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students. Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz. Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out "We`re with you Emma." "Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds," Gonzalez finally said -- the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing. "Fight for your lives before it`s someone else`s job," Gonzalez said. "Get out there and vote." Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. brought many to tears with a surprise appearance. "My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character," she told a rapt crowd. "I have a dream that enough is enough," she said, referencing her grandfather`s famous 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech on ending racism. "And that this should be a gun-free world -- period."In New York, former Beatle Paul McCartney showed up at a march and spoke of the December 1980 murder of his bandmate John Lennon. "Every week you hear about a new shooting and nothing is done about it," McCartney told AFP. "But I think maybe after this something will be done about it." On the other side of the country in Los Angeles, comedian Amy Schumer delivered a passionate plea in front of hundreds of thousands. "You are killing children," she said, of the gun lobby. "And they call people like me `Hollywood liberals` like there`s something in it for us. "Well, what`s in it for us is knowing we`re doing our part to keep our children alive." Demonstrations of solidarity also took place around the world, including across cities in Canada, which unveiled stricter gun laws earlier this week including enhanced background checks. In Scotland, some relatives of those killed in a school shooting in the town of Dunblane in 1996 attended a protest in Edinburgh. Thousands meanwhile gathered in Parkland to pay tribute to those slain in the city on Valentine`s Day. "I March Because I Was Almost Silenced," read a sign carried by Samantha Mayor, 17, who was shot in the knee and wears a heavy brace. Samantha`s mother, Ellyn, held a sign reading "I`m Marching So No Other Parent Has to Hear `Mom, I`ve Been Shot.`" Trump was in Florida as marchers gathered in Washington but the White House issued a statement. "We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today," it said. "Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President`s."

Over 1 million Americans pour onto streets, demand tighter gun control

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to rally nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in &quot;March For Our Lives&quot; protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which reiginited public anger over mass shootings.

Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington.

The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence.

&quot;This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know that&#39;s not only what I want, but I know it&#39;s what you guys want,&quot; Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday.

The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety.

The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and &quot;Hamilton&quot; creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington.

&quot;Trainwreck&quot; star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally.

Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers. On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms.

On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence.

David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby.

&quot;We&#39;re asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA,&quot; he said at the Thursday event in Washington.

An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests.

Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls.

Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to rally nationwide on Saturday for tighter gun laws in "March For Our Lives" protests led by survivors of the Florida school massacre, which reiginited public anger over mass shootings. Students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 students and staff were killed on Feb. 14 will be among the 500,000 people organizers say could rally on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol in Washington. The protests orchestrated by survivors of the rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are aimed at breaking through a legislative gridlock that has long stymied efforts to tighten firearms controls. Mass shootings at American schools and colleges have become a regular occurrence. "This issue is going to turn into the No. 1 issue in this country. I know that's not only what I want, but I know it's what you guys want," Alfonso Calderon, a junior at the Florida school, told Washington students at a pre-march event on Thursday. The Washington rally is among more than 800 events scheduled worldwide, with U.S. demonstrations set from San Clemente, California, to New York and Parkland, according to gun-control group Everytown For Gun Safety. The teenage organizers have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities, with singer Ariana Grande and "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda among those performing in Washington. "Trainwreck" star Amy Schumer is set to appear at the Los Angeles rally. Actor George Clooney and his human rights attorney wife have donated $500,000 and said they would be at the Washington rally. Organizers want Congress, many of whose members are up for re-election this year, to ban the sale of assault weapons like the one used in the Florida rampage and to tighten background checks for gun buyers. On the other side of the debate, gun rights advocates cite constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms. On Friday, Republican President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes modest improvements to background checks for gun sales and grants to help schools prevent gun violence. David Hogg, a senior at Stoneman Douglas, said the protests were a way for young Americans to show their opposition to the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby. "We're asking people (to) put the USA over the NRA," he said at the Thursday event in Washington. An NRA spokeswoman said it had not taken a position on the protests. Democrats and nonpartisan groups hope to register at least 25,000 first-time voters at the rallies, potentially a boost for Democrats, who generally favor stricter gun controls.

Hundreds of thousands set to march for tighter US gun controls

After criticizing video games in the wake of a school shooting in Florida last month, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with industry executives on Thursday to discuss what the president believes is a link between the games and violent acts.

Trump, a Republican, cited the influence of video games after a 19-year-old gunman was accused of killing 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida and injuring more than a dozen others. &ldquo;I&#39;m hearing more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young people&#39;s thoughts,&rdquo; he said last month.&nbsp;

The White House said that Thursday&rsquo;s meeting will be the first of several and will include an industry trade group, conservative activists and members of Congress, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Also attending will be executives from two video game-makers, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which owns Rockstar Games Inc, and ZeniMax Media Inc, which owns Bethesda Softworks.

The purpose of the meeting will be &ldquo;to discuss violent video-game exposure and the correlation to aggression and desensitization in children,&rdquo; White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said.

Trump has made the issue personal by mentioning his concern for his 11-year-old son, Barron. &ldquo;I look at some of the things he&#39;s watching, and I say, how is that possible?&rdquo; he said last week.&nbsp;

The president also has spoken for the need for a new ratings system for games. Currently, the industry employs its own system, which rates games for violence and sexual content.

Dan Hewitt, a spokesman for the Entertainment Software Association, whose CEO will attend the White House meeting, said studies have established no connection between video games and violent conduct.

&ldquo;Like all Americans, we are deeply concerned about the level of gun violence in the United States,&rdquo; Hewitt said. &ldquo;Video games are plainly not the issue: entertainment is distributed and consumed globally, but the U.S. has an exponentially higher level of gun violence than any other nation.&rdquo;

In addition to Take-Two and ZeniMax, the association&#39;s members include some of the biggest names in the industry such as Electronic Arts Inc, Activision Blizzard Inc, Nintendo Co Ltd, Sony Corp and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

It will not be the first time video game-makers have been called to the White House in the wake of a school shooting. In 2013, then-Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, met with industry leaders after the massacre at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school that left 26 dead.

Trump had criticised video games after the shooting, saying 'I'm hearing more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young people's thoughts'

After criticizing video games in the wake of a school shooting in Florida last month, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with industry executives on Thursday to discuss what the president believes is a link between the games and violent acts. Trump, a Republican, cited the influence of video games after a 19-year-old gunman was accused of killing 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida and injuring more than a dozen others. “I'm hearing more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young people's thoughts,” he said last month. The White House said that Thursday’s meeting will be the first of several and will include an industry trade group, conservative activists and members of Congress, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Also attending will be executives from two video game-makers, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, which owns Rockstar Games Inc, and ZeniMax Media Inc, which owns Bethesda Softworks. The purpose of the meeting will be “to discuss violent video-game exposure and the correlation to aggression and desensitization in children,” White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said. Trump has made the issue personal by mentioning his concern for his 11-year-old son, Barron. “I look at some of the things he's watching, and I say, how is that possible?” he said last week. The president also has spoken for the need for a new ratings system for games. Currently, the industry employs its own system, which rates games for violence and sexual content. Dan Hewitt, a spokesman for the Entertainment Software Association, whose CEO will attend the White House meeting, said studies have established no connection between video games and violent conduct. “Like all Americans, we are deeply concerned about the level of gun violence in the United States,” Hewitt said. “Video games are plainly not the issue: entertainment is distributed and consumed globally, but the U.S. has an exponentially higher level of gun violence than any other nation.” In addition to Take-Two and ZeniMax, the association's members include some of the biggest names in the industry such as Electronic Arts Inc, Activision Blizzard Inc, Nintendo Co Ltd, Sony Corp and Tencent Holdings Ltd. It will not be the first time video game-makers have been called to the White House in the wake of a school shooting. In 2013, then-Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, met with industry leaders after the massacre at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school that left 26 dead.

Trump to meet with video-game industry in wake of Florida shooting

President Donald Trump said Monday he would have rushed unarmed into the Florida school targeted by a mass shooter, as student survivors of the slaughter brought their campaign for gun control to Congress.

Nearly two weeks after the attack in Parkland, Florida left 17 people dead, US lawmakers reconvened after a one-week recess under intensifying pressure to address gun violence.

Trump has since called for reforms including tougher background checks on firearm purchases, but the White House has yet to announce support for specific legislation in Congress, where enacting federal gun restrictions faces major obstacles especially in an election year.

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<h5>I really believe I&#39;d run in there even if I didn&#39;t have a weapon,&#39; Trump said. &#39;You never know until you&#39;re tested&#39;</h5>
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During a White House meeting with state governors, Trump said he would have felt compelled to confront the shooter.

&quot;I really believe I&#39;d run in there even if I didn&#39;t have a weapon,&quot; Trump said. &quot;You never know until you&#39;re tested.&quot;

Having previously criticized an armed deputy who failed to intervene in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Trump also branded the performance of some local law enforcement &quot;frankly disgusting.&quot;

The deputy, Scot Peterson, pushed back through his lawyer, saying he positioned himself outside a school building because he believed the shots were originating from outside.

&quot;The allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue,&quot; lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo said in a statement.&nbsp;

Lunch with the NRA 
Spurred to action by the shooting -- the worst at a US school in six years -- several Parkland survivors travelled to the US Capitol, where they met Monday with top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers.

Trump, who touted his Second Amendment credentials on the 2016 campaign trail, said he lunched Sunday with Wayne LaPierre, the head of the powerful National Rifle Association, and told him changes were needed.

&quot;We&#39;re going to do strong background checks. Very strong,&quot; Trump told the governors. &quot;If we see a sicko, I don&#39;t want him having a gun.&quot;

Trump has also called for boosting school security, and controversially, arming some teachers and staff in addition to on-campus guards.

Most Democrats want gun control efforts brought to fruition in Congress, and a new CNN poll showed that 70 percent of Americans support stricter gun laws, up 18 points since October.

But it remains unclear just what measures can pass Congress in Washington&#39;s overheated partisan fog, and Republican House and Senate leaders have remained largely silent on the issue.&nbsp;

Senate Republican Pat Toomey and centrist Democrat Joe Manchin want to reprise their 2013 bill that would expand background checks to include purchases online and at gun shows.&nbsp;

Manchin told reporters Trump would need to express his support for the measure for it to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

Republicans from suburban districts, where calls for gun control have gained ground, have expressed openness to raising the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, or banning devices that turn such weapons into machine guns.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican moderate, said she also supports expanding background checks and addressing mental health.

&quot;I definitely want to see the issue taken up,&quot; she told AFP.

But many conservatives consider any tightening of gun laws a creeping assault on citizens&#39; constitutional right to bear arms.

&quot;I don&#39;t think we need more gun control, I think we need better idiot control,&quot; said Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana.

The split appeared to leave the prospects of significant new gun legislation in doubt.

Some Republicans are pushing the so-called &quot;Fix NICS&quot; bill which would compel agencies to report information into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

&quot;We must do much more than that,&quot; said top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer as he touted legislation that expands background checks.

Doing so, he said, would require Republicans to &quot;break free from the iron grip of the NRA.&quot;

Emotional return to Parkland 
With the gun debate raging, Parkland students and teachers made an emotional return to their school Sunday, setting foot on site for the first time since the massacre.

Staff returned to work on Monday, and classes were to resume Wednesday.

Parkland&#39;s students, in the spotlight as they spur the conversation on guns, received praise Monday from First Lady Melania Trump, who said she was &quot;heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change.&quot;

&quot;They are our future and they deserve a voice,&quot; she said.

Seventeen people died in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

President Donald Trump said Monday he would have rushed unarmed into the Florida school targeted by a mass shooter, as student survivors of the slaughter brought their campaign for gun control to Congress. Nearly two weeks after the attack in Parkland, Florida left 17 people dead, US lawmakers reconvened after a one-week recess under intensifying pressure to address gun violence. Trump has since called for reforms including tougher background checks on firearm purchases, but the White House has yet to announce support for specific legislation in Congress, where enacting federal gun restrictions faces major obstacles especially in an election year. I really believe I'd run in there even if I didn't have a weapon,' Trump said. 'You never know until you're tested' × During a White House meeting with state governors, Trump said he would have felt compelled to confront the shooter. "I really believe I'd run in there even if I didn't have a weapon," Trump said. "You never know until you're tested." Having previously criticized an armed deputy who failed to intervene in the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Trump also branded the performance of some local law enforcement "frankly disgusting." The deputy, Scot Peterson, pushed back through his lawyer, saying he positioned himself outside a school building because he believed the shots were originating from outside. "The allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue," lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo said in a statement. Lunch with the NRA Spurred to action by the shooting -- the worst at a US school in six years -- several Parkland survivors travelled to the US Capitol, where they met Monday with top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers. Trump, who touted his Second Amendment credentials on the 2016 campaign trail, said he lunched Sunday with Wayne LaPierre, the head of the powerful National Rifle Association, and told him changes were needed. "We're going to do strong background checks. Very strong," Trump told the governors. "If we see a sicko, I don't want him having a gun." Trump has also called for boosting school security, and controversially, arming some teachers and staff in addition to on-campus guards. Most Democrats want gun control efforts brought to fruition in Congress, and a new CNN poll showed that 70 percent of Americans support stricter gun laws, up 18 points since October. But it remains unclear just what measures can pass Congress in Washington's overheated partisan fog, and Republican House and Senate leaders have remained largely silent on the issue. Senate Republican Pat Toomey and centrist Democrat Joe Manchin want to reprise their 2013 bill that would expand background checks to include purchases online and at gun shows. Manchin told reporters Trump would need to express his support for the measure for it to pass the Republican-controlled Senate. Republicans from suburban districts, where calls for gun control have gained ground, have expressed openness to raising the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, or banning devices that turn such weapons into machine guns. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican moderate, said she also supports expanding background checks and addressing mental health. "I definitely want to see the issue taken up," she told AFP. But many conservatives consider any tightening of gun laws a creeping assault on citizens' constitutional right to bear arms. "I don't think we need more gun control, I think we need better idiot control," said Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. The split appeared to leave the prospects of significant new gun legislation in doubt. Some Republicans are pushing the so-called "Fix NICS" bill which would compel agencies to report information into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. "We must do much more than that," said top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer as he touted legislation that expands background checks. Doing so, he said, would require Republicans to "break free from the iron grip of the NRA." Emotional return to Parkland With the gun debate raging, Parkland students and teachers made an emotional return to their school Sunday, setting foot on site for the first time since the massacre. Staff returned to work on Monday, and classes were to resume Wednesday. Parkland's students, in the spotlight as they spur the conversation on guns, received praise Monday from First Lady Melania Trump, who said she was "heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change." "They are our future and they deserve a voice," she said.

Trump says would have run unarmed into Florida school

Americans support stricter gun laws by a more-than two-to-one margin, one of the highest levels on record, a polling agency reported Tuesday one week after the latest US school shooting left 17 people dead.

The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence, and put Congress and President Donald Trump&#39;s administration in the spotlight as they consider what changes, if any, should be made to the country&#39;s gun laws.

Voters support tightening gun laws by 66 to 31 percent, according to Quinnipiac University&#39;s national poll, which described the margin as &quot;the highest level of support&quot; since it began surveys on the question in 2008.

The poll also found that a majority of gun owners, 50 percent to 44 percent, backed stricter gun laws and that their support specifically for universal background checks rose to an overwhelming 97 percent, against just three percent who opposed such checks or expressed no opinion.

&quot;If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again,&quot; Quinnipiac poll assistant director Tim Malloy said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years,&quot; he added, referring to December 2015 poll data that showed 47 percent of voters supported tightening such laws.

When broken down by political party, however, the latest results show that just 34 percent of Republicans support stricter gun laws, compared with 86 percent of Democrats.

Trump signalled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to expand and improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the Florida school shooting.

Several legislative proposals were introduced after a shooter killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons like the one used last week in Florida, banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets and a universal background check bill. 
&nbsp;

The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence

Americans support stricter gun laws by a more-than two-to-one margin, one of the highest levels on record, a polling agency reported Tuesday one week after the latest US school shooting left 17 people dead. The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has shocked many Americans, inspired students to launch campaigns to reduce gun violence, and put Congress and President Donald Trump's administration in the spotlight as they consider what changes, if any, should be made to the country's gun laws. Voters support tightening gun laws by 66 to 31 percent, according to Quinnipiac University's national poll, which described the margin as "the highest level of support" since it began surveys on the question in 2008. The poll also found that a majority of gun owners, 50 percent to 44 percent, backed stricter gun laws and that their support specifically for universal background checks rose to an overwhelming 97 percent, against just three percent who opposed such checks or expressed no opinion. "If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again," Quinnipiac poll assistant director Tim Malloy said in a statement. "Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years," he added, referring to December 2015 poll data that showed 47 percent of voters supported tightening such laws. When broken down by political party, however, the latest results show that just 34 percent of Republicans support stricter gun laws, compared with 86 percent of Democrats. Trump signalled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to expand and improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the Florida school shooting. Several legislative proposals were introduced after a shooter killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, including a ban on semi-automatic weapons like the one used last week in Florida, banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets and a universal background check bill.

Two thirds of Americans support stricter gun laws: Poll

The couple who had taken Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz into their family said in an interview published Sunday they had no inkling of violent tendencies from the young man whom they described as quirky and naive.

Cruz, 19, moved in with James and Kimberly Snead of Parkland, Florida in late November after the death of his mother earlier that month from complications of pneumonia, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. He was a friend of their son.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-school-shooting-survivors-to-march-on-washington-call-for-gun-reform-33292">Florida school shooting survivors to march on Washington, call for gun reform</a>

&quot;I told him there`d be rules and he followed every rule to the T,&quot; James Snead, 48, an army veteran and military intelligence analyst, told the paper.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-school-shooter-was-on-police-radar-in-2016-report-33221">&nbsp;Florida school shooter was on police radar in 2016: Report</a>

&quot;We had this monster living under our roof and we didn`t know,&quot; said Kimberly Snead, 49, a nurse. &quot;We didn`t see this side of him.&quot;

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-florida-school-shooting-survivor-tells-trump-at-anti-gun-rally-33213">&nbsp;&#39;Shame on you!&#39; Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally</a>

Cruz killed 17 people at his former high school last Wednesday using an AR-15 rifle that he had legally purchased. It was the country`s worst school massacre since the horror at Sandy Hook six years ago that left 26 dead.

A profile has emerged of a troubled young man who was expelled from the school last year for &quot;disciplinary reasons.&quot;

The FBI admitted it received a detailed warning last month about Cruz`s gun ownership, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting. The agency took no action, despite the tip-off.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-visits-florida-shooting-survivors-fbi-admits-it-missed-tip-33123">Trump visits Florida shooting survivors, FBI admits it missed tip</a>

The Sneads described a 19-year-old who had grown up apparently without ever having to perform common chores -- he couldn`t cook, do laundry, pick up after himself or even use a microwave.

&quot;He was very naive. He wasn`t dumb, just naive,&quot; James Snead told the Sun Sentinel.

Cruz had odd habits, like putting a chocolate chip cookie on a sneak and cheese sandwich, and going to bed at 8 pm.

He seemed lonely and badly wanted a girlfriend, and also was depressed about the death of his mother, the couple said. Kimberly Snead had taken Cruz to the office of a therapist just five days before the shooting, and he had said he was open to therapy and took a business card.

Cruz told the Sneads he would inherit at least $800,000 from his parents, with most of the funds becoming available when he turned 22.

The couple last saw Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, at the Broward County Sheriff`s office. Dressed in a hospital gown, he was handcuffed and surrounded by deputies.

&quot;He said he was sorry. He apologized. He looked lost, absolutely lost,&quot; said James Snead. &quot;And that was the last time we saw him.&quot;

Nikolas Cruz, 19, moved in with James and Kimberly Snead of Parkland, Florida in late November after the death of his mother earlier that month from complications of pneumonia

The couple who had taken Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz into their family said in an interview published Sunday they had no inkling of violent tendencies from the young man whom they described as quirky and naive. Cruz, 19, moved in with James and Kimberly Snead of Parkland, Florida in late November after the death of his mother earlier that month from complications of pneumonia, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. He was a friend of their son. Also read: Florida school shooting survivors to march on Washington, call for gun reform "I told him there`d be rules and he followed every rule to the T," James Snead, 48, an army veteran and military intelligence analyst, told the paper. Also read: Florida school shooter was on police radar in 2016: Report "We had this monster living under our roof and we didn`t know," said Kimberly Snead, 49, a nurse. "We didn`t see this side of him." Also read: 'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally Cruz killed 17 people at his former high school last Wednesday using an AR-15 rifle that he had legally purchased. It was the country`s worst school massacre since the horror at Sandy Hook six years ago that left 26 dead. A profile has emerged of a troubled young man who was expelled from the school last year for "disciplinary reasons." The FBI admitted it received a detailed warning last month about Cruz`s gun ownership, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting. The agency took no action, despite the tip-off. Also read: Trump visits Florida shooting survivors, FBI admits it missed tip The Sneads described a 19-year-old who had grown up apparently without ever having to perform common chores -- he couldn`t cook, do laundry, pick up after himself or even use a microwave. "He was very naive. He wasn`t dumb, just naive," James Snead told the Sun Sentinel. Cruz had odd habits, like putting a chocolate chip cookie on a sneak and cheese sandwich, and going to bed at 8 pm. He seemed lonely and badly wanted a girlfriend, and also was depressed about the death of his mother, the couple said. Kimberly Snead had taken Cruz to the office of a therapist just five days before the shooting, and he had said he was open to therapy and took a business card. Cruz told the Sneads he would inherit at least $800,000 from his parents, with most of the funds becoming available when he turned 22. The couple last saw Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, at the Broward County Sheriff`s office. Dressed in a hospital gown, he was handcuffed and surrounded by deputies. "He said he was sorry. He apologized. He looked lost, absolutely lost," said James Snead. "And that was the last time we saw him."

Couple who took in Florida gunman say he was quirky, naive

Students who survived a mass shooting at their Florida school on Sunday announced plans to march on Washington in a bid to &quot;shame&quot; politicians into reforming laws that make firearms readily available.

The &quot;March for Our Lives&quot; will take place on March 24, with sister rallies planned across the country, a group of students told ABC News` &quot;This Week.&quot;

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-school-shooter-was-on-police-radar-in-2016-report-33221"> Florida school shooter was on police radar in 2016: Report</a>

They pledged to make Wednesday`s slaughter in Parkland, Florida a turning point in America`s deadlocked debate on gun control.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, a troubled former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, confessed to killing 17 people with a legally-purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the latest such atrocity in a country with more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-florida-school-shooting-survivor-tells-trump-at-anti-gun-rally-33213"> &#39;Shame on you!&#39; Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally</a>

Among the students announcing the march was Emma Gonzalez, who captured worldwide attention with a powerful speech in which she assailed President Donald Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby.

She vowed Stoneman Douglas would be &quot;the last mass shooting.&quot;

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<h5>The students have pledged to make Wednesday`s slaughter in Parkland, Florida a turning point in America`s deadlocked debate on gun control</h5>
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On Sunday, Gonzalez, 18, urged politicians to join a conversation about gun control -- citing Trump as well as his fellow Republicans Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-visits-florida-shooting-survivors-fbi-admits-it-missed-tip-33123">Trump visits Florida shooting survivors, FBI admits it missed tip</a>

&quot;We want to give them the opportunity to be on the right side of this,&quot; she said, as she and her four classmates called on students nationwide to help push the message.

Trump will host a &quot;listening session&quot; with high school students and teachers on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement, though it did not specify who would attend the event.

Singling out the links between politicians and the powerful National Rifle Association, Stoneman Douglas student Cameron Kasky said any politician &quot;who is taking money from the NRA is responsible for events like this.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;This isn`t about the GOP,&quot; he said, referring to the Republican Party. &quot;This isn`t about the Democrats.&quot;&nbsp;

The NRA, a traditional ally of the Republicans who currently control Congress and the White House, defends a literal view of the US Constitution`s 2nd Amendment which promises a right &quot;to keep and bear arms.&quot;

Even after last October`s killing of 58 people by a gunman in Las Vegas who amassed 47 firearms to commit the worst mass shooting in recent US history, legislators accomplished nothing in the way of tighter controls.

Accusing the NRA of &quot;fostering and promoting this gun culture,&quot; Kasky said the students seek &quot;a new normal where there`s a badge of shame on any politician who`s accepting money from the NRA.&quot;&quot;People keep asking us, what about the Stoneman Douglas shooting is going to be different, because this has happened before and change hasn`t come?&quot; said Kasky.&nbsp;

&quot;This is it,&quot; he continued. &quot;We are going to be marching together as students begging for our lives.&quot;&nbsp;

The students did not indicate how many people they expected to join their rallies.

But their aims won support from Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, who said they can make a difference.

&quot;After what they saw, the worst things imaginable, they`re not going to just sit back and take it,&quot; he told &quot;This Week.&quot;

&quot;All I`ve heard all week is how frustrated people are with rhetoric. They want action.&quot;

Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo, speaking on the same program, said he is working towards bipartisan solutions that could prevent similar tragedies.

&quot;There are a lot of Republicans who are prepared to support reasonable, common-sense gun safety laws,&quot; he said.

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said that although Republicans have faced a bigger hurdle in making gun control a priority, &quot;it`s been a challenge in the Democratic Party as well.&quot;

Speaking on CNN`s &quot;State of the Union,&quot; Schiff asked, &quot;How much more of this are we gonna to take? How many more shootings?&quot;

Congress has to get &quot;off its backside&quot; to &quot;stare down the NRA and do the right thing,&quot; he said.

The student survivors` calls for change &quot;should matter,&quot; said Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut whose wife, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot and wounded by a deranged gunman. 
 
He said on &quot;Fox News Sunday&quot; that the student activists &quot;are going to vote on this issue probably for the rest of their lives and they`re going to encourage others to do that as well.&quot;

But conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, speaking on the same show, said neither legislation nor marches are the answer.

&quot;It`s not the fault of the NRA,&quot; he said, calling for concealed weapons to be allowed in schools.

&quot;If we are really serious about protecting the kids, we need a mechanism to be defensive.&quot;

The 'March for Our Lives' will take place on March 24, with sister rallies planned across the country, a group of students told ABC News' 'This Week'

Students who survived a mass shooting at their Florida school on Sunday announced plans to march on Washington in a bid to "shame" politicians into reforming laws that make firearms readily available. The "March for Our Lives" will take place on March 24, with sister rallies planned across the country, a group of students told ABC News` "This Week." Also read: Florida school shooter was on police radar in 2016: Report They pledged to make Wednesday`s slaughter in Parkland, Florida a turning point in America`s deadlocked debate on gun control. Nikolas Cruz, 19, a troubled former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, confessed to killing 17 people with a legally-purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the latest such atrocity in a country with more than 30,000 gun-related deaths annually. Also read: 'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally Among the students announcing the march was Emma Gonzalez, who captured worldwide attention with a powerful speech in which she assailed President Donald Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby. She vowed Stoneman Douglas would be "the last mass shooting." The students have pledged to make Wednesday`s slaughter in Parkland, Florida a turning point in America`s deadlocked debate on gun control × On Sunday, Gonzalez, 18, urged politicians to join a conversation about gun control -- citing Trump as well as his fellow Republicans Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott. Also read: Trump visits Florida shooting survivors, FBI admits it missed tip "We want to give them the opportunity to be on the right side of this," she said, as she and her four classmates called on students nationwide to help push the message. Trump will host a "listening session" with high school students and teachers on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement, though it did not specify who would attend the event. Singling out the links between politicians and the powerful National Rifle Association, Stoneman Douglas student Cameron Kasky said any politician "who is taking money from the NRA is responsible for events like this." "This isn`t about the GOP," he said, referring to the Republican Party. "This isn`t about the Democrats." The NRA, a traditional ally of the Republicans who currently control Congress and the White House, defends a literal view of the US Constitution`s 2nd Amendment which promises a right "to keep and bear arms." Even after last October`s killing of 58 people by a gunman in Las Vegas who amassed 47 firearms to commit the worst mass shooting in recent US history, legislators accomplished nothing in the way of tighter controls. Accusing the NRA of "fostering and promoting this gun culture," Kasky said the students seek "a new normal where there`s a badge of shame on any politician who`s accepting money from the NRA.""People keep asking us, what about the Stoneman Douglas shooting is going to be different, because this has happened before and change hasn`t come?" said Kasky. "This is it," he continued. "We are going to be marching together as students begging for our lives." The students did not indicate how many people they expected to join their rallies. But their aims won support from Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, who said they can make a difference. "After what they saw, the worst things imaginable, they`re not going to just sit back and take it," he told "This Week." "All I`ve heard all week is how frustrated people are with rhetoric. They want action." Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo, speaking on the same program, said he is working towards bipartisan solutions that could prevent similar tragedies. "There are a lot of Republicans who are prepared to support reasonable, common-sense gun safety laws," he said. Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said that although Republicans have faced a bigger hurdle in making gun control a priority, "it`s been a challenge in the Democratic Party as well." Speaking on CNN`s "State of the Union," Schiff asked, "How much more of this are we gonna to take? How many more shootings?" Congress has to get "off its backside" to "stare down the NRA and do the right thing," he said. The student survivors` calls for change "should matter," said Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut whose wife, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot and wounded by a deranged gunman. He said on "Fox News Sunday" that the student activists "are going to vote on this issue probably for the rest of their lives and they`re going to encourage others to do that as well." But conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, speaking on the same show, said neither legislation nor marches are the answer. "It`s not the fault of the NRA," he said, calling for concealed weapons to be allowed in schools. "If we are really serious about protecting the kids, we need a mechanism to be defensive."

Florida school shooting survivors to march on Washington, call for gun reform

A teenager accused of shooting to death 17 people at a Florida high school was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was receiving sufficient support, a newspaper said on Saturday.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with committing multiple murders on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a Miami suburb. More than a dozen people also were wounded in the deadliest shooting at a U.S. high school.

More vigils and funerals were scheduled for this weekend in and around Parkland. Two gun shows and a rally calling for the firearm safety legislation also were due to be held nearby.

According to a report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a video of Cruz cutting his arm posted to the social media network Snapchat in September 2016 raised concerns among law enforcement and at the Florida Department of Children and Family Services.

&quot;Mr. Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for,&quot; said a report written by department officials after investigators interviewed the teenager, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-florida-school-shooting-survivor-tells-trump-at-anti-gun-rally-33213" target="_blank">&#39;Shame on you!&#39; Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally</a>

The newspaper reported that the investigators ultimately decided that Cruz, then 18, was receiving enough support from mental health professionals and from his school, and that any risk in his case was low.

Representatives for the Department of Children and Family Services did not respond to requests from comment.

On Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it failed to investigate a warning this year that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill. [nL2N1Q60HJ]

A person described as close to Cruz called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5 to report concerns about him, according to the FBI. That information was not forwarded to the FBI&#39;s Miami office, in what agency officials called a breakdown in protocol.

The disclosure spread angry disbelief among Parkland residents and led Florida&#39;s Republican Governor Rick Scott to call for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign.

&quot;We have spoken with victims and families and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy,&quot; Wray said in a statement on Friday.

FBI procedure under review

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of FBI procedures following the shooting, in which 14 students and three school staff members died.

The latest U.S. mass shooting has raised concerns about potential lapses in school security and stirred the continuing U.S. debate pitting proponents of tougher restrictions on firearms against advocates for gun rights, which are protected by the U.S. Constitution&#39;s Second Amendment.

U.S. President Donald Trump and some other political leaders have said mental illness prompted the massacre. Cruz had been expelled from the high school for undisclosed disciplinary reasons and former classmates described him as an outcast and troublemaker with a fascination for weaponry.

According to CNN, Cruz posted disparaging comments about Jews, African Americans and gays in a private chat group on the social media network Instagram.

&quot;I think I am going to kill people,&quot; Cruz wrote in the group, according to CNN, which also quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying the suspect bought at least five guns in the past year.

Cruz&#39;s attorneys at the Broward County Public Defender&#39;s Office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has said that his office had received about 20 &quot;calls for service&quot; in the past few years regarding Cruz and would scrutinize all of them to see if they were handled properly.

In Coral Springs, a neighboring suburb, Life Fellowship Church Pastor Harold Altamirano and about three dozen worshipers gathered on Saturday to walk around the community and pray for healing.

&quot;We just want to tell Parkland that you are not alone. We are hurting with you,&quot; Altamirano said. &quot;Let&#39;s not allow fear to win. Love has to have the last say.&quot;

Nikolas Cruz, charged with the Parkland school shooting, was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun

A teenager accused of shooting to death 17 people at a Florida high school was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was receiving sufficient support, a newspaper said on Saturday. Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with committing multiple murders on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a Miami suburb. More than a dozen people also were wounded in the deadliest shooting at a U.S. high school. More vigils and funerals were scheduled for this weekend in and around Parkland. Two gun shows and a rally calling for the firearm safety legislation also were due to be held nearby. According to a report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a video of Cruz cutting his arm posted to the social media network Snapchat in September 2016 raised concerns among law enforcement and at the Florida Department of Children and Family Services. "Mr. Cruz stated he plans to go out and buy a gun. It is unknown what he is buying the gun for," said a report written by department officials after investigators interviewed the teenager, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Also read: 'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally The newspaper reported that the investigators ultimately decided that Cruz, then 18, was receiving enough support from mental health professionals and from his school, and that any risk in his case was low. Representatives for the Department of Children and Family Services did not respond to requests from comment. On Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it failed to investigate a warning this year that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill. [nL2N1Q60HJ] A person described as close to Cruz called an FBI tip line on Jan. 5 to report concerns about him, according to the FBI. That information was not forwarded to the FBI's Miami office, in what agency officials called a breakdown in protocol. The disclosure spread angry disbelief among Parkland residents and led Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott to call for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign. "We have spoken with victims and families and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy," Wray said in a statement on Friday. FBI procedure under review U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of FBI procedures following the shooting, in which 14 students and three school staff members died. The latest U.S. mass shooting has raised concerns about potential lapses in school security and stirred the continuing U.S. debate pitting proponents of tougher restrictions on firearms against advocates for gun rights, which are protected by the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. U.S. President Donald Trump and some other political leaders have said mental illness prompted the massacre. Cruz had been expelled from the high school for undisclosed disciplinary reasons and former classmates described him as an outcast and troublemaker with a fascination for weaponry. According to CNN, Cruz posted disparaging comments about Jews, African Americans and gays in a private chat group on the social media network Instagram. "I think I am going to kill people," Cruz wrote in the group, according to CNN, which also quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying the suspect bought at least five guns in the past year. Cruz's attorneys at the Broward County Public Defender's Office could not immediately be reached for comment. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has said that his office had received about 20 "calls for service" in the past few years regarding Cruz and would scrutinize all of them to see if they were handled properly. In Coral Springs, a neighboring suburb, Life Fellowship Church Pastor Harold Altamirano and about three dozen worshipers gathered on Saturday to walk around the community and pray for healing. "We just want to tell Parkland that you are not alone. We are hurting with you," Altamirano said. "Let's not allow fear to win. Love has to have the last say."

Florida school shooter was on police radar in 2016: Report

A student survivor of the Parkland school shooting called out US President Donald Trump today over his ties to the powerful National Rifle Association, in a poignant address to an anti-gun rally in Florida.

&quot;To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!&quot; said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby -- and prompting the crowd to chant in turn: &quot;Shame on you!&quot;

Wednesday&#39;s massacre, which claimed 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has fuelled urgent calls for an end to the national deadlock over gun control -- with a string of shooting survivors rallying behind the cause.

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<h5>If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,&#39; said Gonzalez</h5>
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The gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was able to legally buy an assault rifle despite a history of troubling and violent behavior.

In Washington, however, the political response has made clear that the powerful NRA pro-gun lobby remains formidable, while Trump himself suggested the root cause of mass shootings was a crisis of mental health -- making no mention of gun control.

&quot;If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,&quot; said Gonzalez.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-healing-after-florida-school-shooting-33004" target="_blank">Trump says will make schools safer after Florida shooting</a>

&quot;It doesnt matter because I already know. Thirty million,&quot; she told the rally attended by fellow students, parents and local officials, citing the sum spent by the NRA to support Trumps election bid and defeat Hillary Clinton.

Dividing that sum by the number of shooting victims in the United States so far this year, Gonzalez asked: &quot;Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump?&quot; The young woman&#39;s powerful address immediately went viral, with her name a top trending topic on Twitter. 
 
The US leader also tweeted a day after the massacre that that neighbors and fellow students had failed to flag Cruz to the authorities.

&quot;We did,&quot; Gonzalez said, her shaking with emotion. &quot;Time and time again. Since he was in middle school. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter.&quot;

US authorities have come under mounting scrutiny for failing to act on a series of warning signs.

The FBI admitted Friday it received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said Cruz could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents failed to follow up.

Cruz was also known to local police after his mother repeatedly called them over his violent outbursts, while records obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel show welfare services investigated Cruz after he cut his arms and said he wanted to buy a gun.&nbsp;

'To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!' said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby

A student survivor of the Parkland school shooting called out US President Donald Trump today over his ties to the powerful National Rifle Association, in a poignant address to an anti-gun rally in Florida. "To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!" said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby -- and prompting the crowd to chant in turn: "Shame on you!" Wednesday's massacre, which claimed 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has fuelled urgent calls for an end to the national deadlock over gun control -- with a string of shooting survivors rallying behind the cause. If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,' said Gonzalez × The gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was able to legally buy an assault rifle despite a history of troubling and violent behavior. In Washington, however, the political response has made clear that the powerful NRA pro-gun lobby remains formidable, while Trump himself suggested the root cause of mass shootings was a crisis of mental health -- making no mention of gun control. "If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association," said Gonzalez. Also read: Trump says will make schools safer after Florida shooting "It doesnt matter because I already know. Thirty million," she told the rally attended by fellow students, parents and local officials, citing the sum spent by the NRA to support Trumps election bid and defeat Hillary Clinton. Dividing that sum by the number of shooting victims in the United States so far this year, Gonzalez asked: "Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump?" The young woman's powerful address immediately went viral, with her name a top trending topic on Twitter. The US leader also tweeted a day after the massacre that that neighbors and fellow students had failed to flag Cruz to the authorities. "We did," Gonzalez said, her shaking with emotion. "Time and time again. Since he was in middle school. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter." US authorities have come under mounting scrutiny for failing to act on a series of warning signs. The FBI admitted Friday it received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said Cruz could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents failed to follow up. Cruz was also known to local police after his mother repeatedly called them over his violent outbursts, while records obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel show welfare services investigated Cruz after he cut his arms and said he wanted to buy a gun.

'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/31/public-lands-sell-congress-bureau-management-chaffetz?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank">Republicans in the US </a>are moving to sell off&nbsp;millions of acres of&nbsp;public land, the size of Connecticut.

US representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah has introduced a new piece of legislation that would direct the interior secretary to sell off the 3.3 million&nbsp;acres of public land, The Guardian reported.

The Tea Party Republican claimed in a press release that the land, maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), served &ldquo;no purpose for taxpayers&rdquo;, The Guardian said in its report.

Many in the 10 states that will lose federal land in the bill refute the claim, The Guardian added. The 10 states affected by the legislation are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

Public land rallies, opposing the move, are bringing together environmentalists and sportsmen across the west, The Guardian reported.

According to The Guardian, the land is set aside for mixed-use. It is leased for oil, gas and timber, but is also open to outdoor enthusiasts. It also provides a passage for gray wolves and grizzly bear and serves as the winter pasture for big game species.

The bill was presented alongside another legislation that would strip the BLM and the US Forest Service of their law enforcement capabilities, The Guardian said.

The sale does not have to generate any money for the federal government because of a new and controversial change in the House of Representatives this month, while an interior department representative said selling these 3.3 million acres would anyway be &quot;unlikely to generate any revenue,&quot; The Guardian reported.

The report quotes a&nbsp;Republican conservation group in Utah who likened it at the time to<a data-link-name="in body link" href="http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/politics/52774161-90/lands-chaffetz-utah-bill.html.csp">&nbsp;&ldquo;selling the house to pay the light bill</a>&rdquo;.

 
(WION)

The Tea Party Republican who advanced the bill said it serves 'no purpose for taxpayers', but even Republican conservationists are outraged

Republicans in the US are moving to sell off millions of acres of public land, the size of Connecticut. US representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah has introduced a new piece of legislation that would direct the interior secretary to sell off the 3.3 million acres of public land, The Guardian reported. The Tea Party Republican claimed in a press release that the land, maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), served “no purpose for taxpayers”, The Guardian said in its report. Many in the 10 states that will lose federal land in the bill refute the claim, The Guardian added. The 10 states affected by the legislation are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. Public land rallies, opposing the move, are bringing together environmentalists and sportsmen across the west, The Guardian reported. According to The Guardian, the land is set aside for mixed-use. It is leased for oil, gas and timber, but is also open to outdoor enthusiasts. It also provides a passage for gray wolves and grizzly bear and serves as the winter pasture for big game species. The bill was presented alongside another legislation that would strip the BLM and the US Forest Service of their law enforcement capabilities, The Guardian said. The sale does not have to generate any money for the federal government because of a new and controversial change in the House of Representatives this month, while an interior department representative said selling these 3.3 million acres would anyway be "unlikely to generate any revenue," The Guardian reported. The report quotes a Republican conservation group in Utah who likened it at the time to “selling the house to pay the light bill”. (WION)

US Republicans move to sell millions of acres of public parkland

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