Grand Rapids gun control advocacy group holds first meeting since Florida mass shooting

The shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 14 that left 17 dead and 14 injured has caused an uproar by different individuals and organization across the country who are calling for tighter gun restrictions in the U.S.

In Grand Rapids, the Michigan chapter for a national gun control organization, Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America, is hosting their first meeting since the mass shooting.

The meetings, which are held monthly, are a chance for community members, whether it be moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or anyone, to discuss ways to make the Grand Rapids community safer by “common sense” gun laws.

The typical turnout for the meetings range from 10 to 15 people, according to community outreach leader for the group, Consing Tompkins, but the expected turnout for this meeting is estimated to be above 60.

She said the mass shooting in Florida has played a role in this increase in attendance.

“I think it's really getting to people and I’m hoping at this point we can move forward within our own state and throughout the country,” Tompkins said.

Lisa VanZegeren is a teacher in Kentwood Public Schools who is attending the meeting because she wants to take action to prevent these types of school shootings from happening.

“I have been a teacher since Columbine, and I have watched school shooting after school shooting come and go on the news,” VanZegeren said over text message.

She said she feels hopeful that change can be made after this recent shooting, and that it is starting with the kids who are affected by this violence.

“I am incredibly proud of these young people standing up and using their voices for change," she said. "They are inspiring and give me hope."

Shannon Karpinski was interested in attending the meeting before the mass shooting in Florida, but because of it she is now more motivated to get involved in the issue of gun control.

“I’m tired of being angry and feeling hopeless, and I think it's time for me to get more involved to see how I can participate in meaningful action and to make a change,” Karpinski said.

According to Tompkins, the Moms Demand Action group supports the Second Amendment, but feel that support comes hand-in-hand with gun laws. She said the group supports getting guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, people with dangerous mental illnesses, and pushing for increased background checks on all gun sales. She said the group also opposes permitless concealed carry weapons, and supports getting guns out of “sensitive” places, such as schools.

Tompkins, who is a mother of two, said she began attending the meetings because she worried about her children attending school and not being safe.

“I knew that I needed to pick one thing and put my heart and soul into it,” she said. “If i was going to make any difference, this was at the top of my list.”

The meeting will be held Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m. at the Fountain Street Church, and is open to the public. More information about the event can be found on the group’s Facebook event page.