Lawmakers lament Kansas City shooting on sixth anniversary of Parkland

Members of Congress mourned after a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade on Wednesday killed at least one person and injured over 20 more.

Police in Kansas City, Mo., said three people are in custody after the shooting, which injured at least 21 people, including at least eight children. Eight of the victims were described with immediately life-threatening injuries.

The shooting came on the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that killed 17 people and injured 17 more, the deadliest shooting at a high school in U.S. history.

“I’m heartbroken for the victims of the senseless mass shooting in Kansas City. On the anniversary of one of America’s deadliest school shootings, the persistent cycle of gun violence is a painful reality,” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), said Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“We ALL deserve to live without the fear of being shot, whether at school, home, or celebrating special moments with our communities,” he continued. “We don’t have to live like this.”

Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), who represents neighboring Kansas City, Kan., celebrated the work of first responders in apprehending suspects and assisting victims.

“Words can not describe the pain and shock we’re feeling as a joyous day turned into tragedy right in our community,” she wrote on X. “Though our community stands together in the present, the traumatic memories of today will stick with children, families and community members for far too long. This does not reflect the spirit of Kansas City, and I support those asking for a change to ensure a brighter and safer future.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), who represents Parkland and is himself a Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumnus, again urged his fellow lawmakers to pursue gun control legislation to stop future mass shootings.

“After Parkland, I helped lead the strongest gun violence prevention/school safety bill in Florida’s history,” he wrote on X. “It was bipartisan and it’s still intact to this day. We need a Congress that can get life-saving legislation like this done rather than one focused on partisan stunts.”

Other lawmakers also sent their wishes, mourned those lost and lamented the trauma, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a Kansas City native, and Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.).

“Another day that should have been celebratory has turned into tragedy. My thoughts are with Kansas City tonight,” Casten wrote on X. “This was avoidable and our communities will continue to pay the price of inaction until we pass meaningful gun violence prevention legislation.”

President Biden also released a statement about the shooting, demanding action on gun control legislation.

“Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting. What are we waiting for? What else do we need to see? How many more families need to be torn apart?” Biden said.

“It is time to act. That’s where I stand. And I ask the country to stand with me,” he continued. “To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them.”

“Jill and I pray for those killed and injured today in Kansas City, and for our country to find the resolve to end this senseless epidemic of gun violence tearing us at the seams,” he added.