Students who took part in the National Walkout Day March 14 to protest gun violence in America now are calling for Michigan Attorney General candidate Tonya Schuitmaker, a Republican, to drop out of this year’s election.
Schuitmaker, who is term limited as a senator at the end of this year and seeking to succeed Bill Schuette as attorney general, told WZZM-TV March 14 she was disappointed in students who took part in the walkout and in adults who allowed them to do it.
In a prepared statement Wednesday, students remarked, “We are still saddened by the response from Michigan Senator and Attorney General Candidate Tonya Schuitmaker. Almost two weeks later, the statement is still unacceptable. Senator Schuitmaker’s statement is nothing more than a talking point.”
The statement listed the senator’s votes in the Legislature on gun-related bills:
- SB 586 (Passed, 11/17), clarify that state law pre-empts local firearms restrictions. FOR
- SB 584 (Passed, 11/17), expanded areas where concealed weapons are allowed (including gun free zones). FOR
- SB 336 (Passed, 11.17), authorized provisional concealed pistol permits for adults who are aged 18,19, or 20, expiring at age 21. FOR
- SB 584 (Failed, 11/17), to prohibit issuing a concealed pistol permit to an individual who has been convicted of domestic violence charges. AGAINST
- SB 584 (Failed, 11/17), to prohibit issuing a concealed pistol permit to an individual who is on a state sex offender’s list. AGAINST
- SB 584 (Failed, 11/17), to reimburse school employees who purchase bullet proof vests. AGAINST
- SB 584 (Failed, 11/17), to prohibit issuing a concealed pistol permit to an individual who is on a federal government “no fly” list. AGAINST
- The students have expressed dismay in Schuitmaker’s support from the National Rifle Assocation.
The prepared statement asserted, “The senator is caught in her National Rifle Association mindset and has been for years. She is a disappointment to the students who demand to be heard and also a disappointment to those she claims to represent in the 26th District.
“Today, we demand that Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-26) resign from her seat and drop out of the race for Attorney General.”
Schuitmaker’s senate district includes all of Allegan and Van Buren counties and the City of Kentwood and Gaines Township in Kent County.
Martin High School senior Austin Marsman, who also is contributing writer for Townbroadcast, organized the Allegan Tech Center Walk-out March 14.
Marsman, who led the Allegan Area Educational Services Administration (AAESA) Vocational Technical Center ceremony, talked about the day he learned about the Feb. 14 shootings that left 17 students dead in Parkland, Fla.
“As the reports of casualties streamed in, we were hit emotionally – it could be anywhere. I will forever remember my reaction that day,” Marsman recalled. “Since then, people across the nation have joined the strong voices from Parkland who demand change.
“Here in Allegan County, it meant student leaders organizing walkouts and contacting lawmakers, among other actions. We stood with our peers on March 14 as part of a national movement that focused on three main areas: Tougher gun laws; school safety measures; and a change in student culture. Walking out of class felt empowering because our lawmakers and administrators would take note.
“My peers in Allegan went a step further than a simple protest, they called on our lawmakers to take action and even invited some to attend the walkout.”
He said Schuitmaker wrongly condemned adults in local schools for allowing students to demonstrate and maintained that protest “gets nothing done.”
“She failed to mention gun violence or the allocation of resources to protect our schools,” Marsman said. “A large cohort of us felt disappointed that the senator wouldn’t even listen to our concerns. Instead of a walkout she advocated for a ‘walk-up’ movement. Social inclusion is part of the discussion, but not the sole answer.”
Marsman pointed out that Schuitmaker has received an A rating from the NRA.
“She does not stand for school safety and common-sense gun laws, and we will not be voting for her if she is the Republican choice for Attorney General. Myself and many of my peers are 18, registered to vote, and will do everything in our power to campaign against her election.”
If she gets the nomination for AG, I will vote AGAINST Tonya Schuitmaker. Shame on her, and on the NRA. Her voting record speaks for itself.
Tell your friends Basura, she cannot be our next AG.
I support Senator Schuitmaker and her comments regarding the walkout and demonstrations by school students. If you want to express yourself, as is your right to do so, please do it on your own time and quit misusing the taxpayer dollars by demonstrating instead of having your presence in the classroom.
As a proud NRA member and registered Republican, I will be pleased to vote for her if she becomes the candidate for Attorney General for the great state of Michigan. She is a person of integrity, honor, and supports the 2nd Amendment.
Free Market Man,
The point of a protest is to get a lawmaker’s attention. As for the taxpayers, I and many others who see the value in a civics lesson will gladly pay for any offense. This experience taught students – many of which are of voting age – that there is a positive outlet for their concerns and opinions. Would you rather mass, unorganized chaos that wasn’t run by school officials or the police? I would think not.
What about the First Amendment? Don’t we have that right?
It is your right and duty as an American to vote, but I strongly urge you to reconsider and support Tom Leonard as the Republican choice for AG: Someone full of integrity and honor doesn’t condemn a protest because they disagree.
Austin,
Sir, please read what you stated and think about it.
“What about the First Amendment? Don’t we have that right?” You do, the same question is what about the Second Amendment and do I have that right? or is the pen not mightier than the sword?
If you wish to embrace the Bill of Rights embrace the entire document.
“well regulated militia” might now mean “unregulated private individuals”
or might not mean “unregulated private individuals”
What a joke she is! This is ridiculous. Listen to the children who want a future, not a person in the morgue. DO NOT RE-ELECT her period. She doesn’t listen to the people who elected her. How much money is she getting from the NRA?
Do not be deterred! The nay-sayers are frightened of your collective power, especially the power of the polling place.
Not all “adults” dismiss you as “children.” Your voices are worthy of being heard.
Keep on keeping on!
These young men need to go back to their classrooms and learn the following:
1. Draft a letter to Sen. Schuitmaker and ask to talk with her face to face about her voting record and her position with the NRA. i have had the pleasure of meeting with her several times-she is very pro-life and very easy to talk to.
2. Learn about local government. Your local school board and school administration are the people that can actually put policies and programs in place to protect our children. The state government is not designed to deal with the day to day operations of a school
3. Before you go bashing the NRA, you better go to their web site and see the good they do. They have dozens of classes about gun safety — how to use them properly. They also have an award winning education program designed for children. It is lead by a character named Eddie the Eagle — he teaches kids if they see a gun to “Stop, Don’t touch, Run away, tell an adult.” They also teach safety when in a pool, around electrical outlets and so forth. Finally, they have grants and other programs that support local police. If you ask them — their goal is to prevent gun violence.
4. Review the reports about the Parkland shooting, Listen to what the kids actually said. They heard popping, thinking that they were popping balloons for Valentine’s day, but they were actual bullets.
How many students walked toward the shooting because they never heard gun fire? Lack of education costs lives that day.
5. This marching around business scared the pants off me on March 14. “10 a.m. in the morning, 500 of our students are going to march down main street for 17 minutes. Any nutjob could have had a field day shooting those students. He knew the time, how many, where and for how long. Those students were sitting ducks.
I was actually quite proud of Wayland High School. They had an assembly in the Fine Arts Center for kids to have a discussion with local leaders about school safety. They were setting time to honor those killed but in a building and they were safe
It is good to see students get involved in a cause. However, they need to be taught the best way to get results. Education is power.
Hello Peggy,
I’m one of those young men, I’m glad you commented. If I may, I’d like to address your points.
1. We have sent out press releases publicly; called her office many times; made direct attempts to reach her on social media; and attended mobile office hours. I don’t doubt her personal character, but it’s been over two weeks and we haven’t got a genuine response.
2. We know local government, I personally went to school board meetings to make them aware and have met almost daily with officials. I’m proud to relay that AAESA has a partnership with local schools and the Allegan County Sheriff to increase safety. Policies are in the works.
As for state government, they make laws – it’s their job. As we see by Tonya’s position, she doesn’t take a strong stance against gun violence or any positive views of public education. She represents the NRA – not her constituents.
3. We will bash the NRA until they can be bashed no more. Back in their early days, the National Rifle Association was a great group. They stood for responsible ownership and usage – today they stand against common sense gun laws and have even demonized kids who stared down an AR-15 in their school. The NRA isn’t for “good gun owners” anymore, they stand as the gun industry’s PR firm.
4. There shouldn’t even be guns in school, why should kids have to worry about it?
5. That’s why you coordinate protests with the authorities and make sure you know why you are out there exercising 1st Amendment rights. I’m sure there are some kids who participated just to follow the crowd, but I can assure you that the demonstrations in question were legitimate concerned students.
Have a wonderful day
Maybe if Mr. Hogg had been a friend of Mr. Cruz along with other classmates, showing him how to handle his anger and be friends, helping him with his mental illness, there might not have been any killings. Instead, he is lashing out at the NRA and anyone who wants their 2nd Amendment rights upheld. Look in the mirror Mr. Hogg, there is the source of your problem!
Ms. Peggy,
Very well done!
Young people have a right to speak up, but it would be to their advantage to understand what they are talking about instead of listening to swearing, uninformed Mr. Hogg and emulating him.
He and others are attacking the wrong things instead of the person actually pulling the trigger. Cruz should be the focus of attention.