Parkland, FL – Today, the families of the victims in this year’s tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School issued the following response through their organization, Stand with Parkland, on yesterday’s shooting in Jacksonville, FL.

'STAND WITH PARKLAND' CALLS ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STAND BY PRESIDENT’S COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS

Today, the families of the victims of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL spoke out in response to reports that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is considering allowing states to use federal funding to arm schoolteachers. The following statement can be attributed to Tony Montalto, President of Stand with Parkland and father of Gina Montalto.

PARKLAND, Fla. — Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, returned to class this week. The school, however, did not return to what it used to be, CBSN anchor Anne-Marie Green reports.

It's been six months since former student Nikolas Cruz went on a rampage, killing 17 people on Valentine's Day. On Friday, the school looked different. The building where Cruz opened fire is closed, surrounded by a 12-foot tall fence. Inside, the changes are even greater.

Parkland, FL – Today marks six months since the massacre. As students return to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tomorrow for a new year of classes, the victims’ parents and families of last year’s tragic school shooting are pressing school officials and legislators all across the country to make school safety a priority. In the months following the shooting, not enough has been done to make schools safer, and Stand with Parkland intends to hold public officials accountable. Families of the victims will also be taking their advocacy to the halls of Congress as members on both sides of the aisle return to Washington, DC ahead of the midterm elections.

PARKLAND, Fla. — Fortified by fences and patrolled by more armed personnel, schools will open their doors to students for the start of the new year with a heightened focus on security intended to ease fears about deadly campus shootings.

The massacre in Parkland, Fla., one of the most lethal in American history, unnerved school administrators across the country, who devoted the summer to reinforcing buildings and hiring security.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Parkland, FL – Today “Stand with Parkland, The National Association of Families for Safe Schools,” calls for change in Broward County, Florida, citing poor performance of the School Board of Broward County. You have an opportunity to help change this. Please come out and vote on August 28th. We ask everyone concerned about the safety and security of our county’s schools to vote for new School Board representation that will be more concerned about the safety of the students and teachers in Broward County schools.

A tight-knit group of parents and relatives of the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, launched a nonprofit group Thursday to push for sensible gun laws, increased school security and mental health intervention for those who might lash out violently.

WASHINGTON – The Florida families who lost children and spouses in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day want to have a civil conversation with America about making schools safer.

Sixteen parents and other relatives of the 17 students and teachers killed during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre launched a national organization Thursday with the goal of turning their tragedy into a movement to champion bipartisan school safety measures.

"We really wished we didn't have to do this. Any of these families involved would give anything to be able to go and turn the clock back. ... We know this is a long haul. There's no quick solution. We understand that it's going to take all Americans to come together to try and solve the uniquely American problem. " — Tony Montalto, who lost his daughter, Gina, told Axios

Washington (CNN) A group of Parkland families is banding together to encourage compromise and conversation in addressing gun violence in US schools.

The families, all of whom lost loved ones in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, on Thursday publicly launched an advocacy group called Stand with Parkland.