Former President Barack Obama issued a statement Saturday afternoon saluting the March for Our Lives protesters who are calling for stricter gun laws in the wake of the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 students and faculty and wounded 17 more.
Obama’s statement, however, does not mention what the students were marching about. In typical Obama fashion, he says something that everyone thinks they hear without Obama actually saying it. In this case, no mention of guns or any proposed actions were made by Obama.
“Michelle and I are so inspired by all the young people who made today’s marches happen. Keep at it. You’re leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.”
Michelle and I are so inspired by all the young people who made today’s marches happen. Keep at it. You’re leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 24, 2018
Similarly, a letter by Barack and Michelle Obama to the Parkland students dated March 10 gave support but made no mention of their anti-gun cause.
EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the letter @BarackObama and @MichelleObama wrote to the #ParklandShooting survivors. In it, the former president and first lady tell the teens that they’ve “inspired” them, and commend them on “awakening the conscience of our nation.” https://t.co/FOQYVguNFw pic.twitter.com/xEPHE6iUL2
— Mic (@mic) March 21, 2018
Obama issued a statement on February 15, the day after the Parkland school massacre, that did mention gun-control, “We are grieving with Parkland. But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job. And until we can honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.”
We are grieving with Parkland. But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job. And until we can honestly say that we're doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 15, 2018
Obama’s efforts to impose gun control were rejected by Congress throughout his presidency. In 2016, a frustrated Obama issued a series of executive actions on guns. He spoke about the Second Amendment at the announcement (via Time):
“I believe in the Second Amendment. It’s there written on the paper. It guarantees a right to bear arms. No matter how many times people try to twist my words around, I taught constitutional law. I know a little bit about this. I get it. But I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment,” Obama said.
