Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said Congress needs to address mental health problems that lead to violence among students in the wake of Wednesday’s deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school.
“I’d like to broaden the question and broaden the discussion and say Congress needs to be holding hearings on these issues,” Ms. DeVos said Thursday on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.” “We’ve seen lots of discussion on this every time we have an incident. … We need to have a conversation at the level where lawmakers can actually impact the future.”
Nikolas Cruz, 19, is accused of opening fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead so far, with another 15 hospitalized.
Mr. Cruz, a former student at the school, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
“There were apparently were lots of signs,” Ms. DeVos said of the accused gunman’s mental health. “And I think it’s critically important that we have a much more robust conversation around tracking and tackling mental health issues, and really bringing this all together.”
Mr. Cruz apparently had voiced his passion for weapons and violence on social media, and was described as a “loner” by fellow students.
Wednesday’s massacre is third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history behind the 2007 Virginia Tech and 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School incidents.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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