Students ‘walk up’ to CMR

At last week’s Chase Youth Commission “Town Hall” meeting at Ferris High School, I listened, as a former West Valley principal of 18 years, to the passionate voices of student engaging Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Ozzie Knezovich and Jamie Yots in a responsible conversation about the heart of school safety.

Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers was pressed repeatedly to declare her position on background checks, age limits, assault weapons and the NRA. From my vantage point, she spent the evening ducking for cover behind the Second Amendment and deflecting the students’ persistent focus on guns onto safer ground.

McMorris Rodgers claimed, “I’ve come tonight to listen to student concerns.” After an hour, it would be hard to believe she could have missed what was being said. With a unified collective voice, the students were emphatic that “Enough is now Enough.” Their schools need to be free from both fear and guns. No excuses, whatever it takes.

What was she willing to commit to doing to avoid another Freeman or Parkland? Their disappointment at the end of this teachable moment was apparent and palpable. As was mine.

“When will we/she ever learn?”…

Cleve Penberthy

Spokane