Bosley, Aldridge release statements on Central VPA High tragedy

State Reps. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis, and Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, released the following statements on the tragic shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School.

Rep. LaKeySha Bosley:

“The City of St. Louis has suffered innumerable tragedies carried out with firearms, but the attack on the children of our community today has chilled me to the bone. No one should have to tolerate the trauma that students and educators faced today. I want to thank first responders for acting quickly and decisively to prevent further loss of life, and I also want to thank the educators, administrators and staff at Central VPA who worked to safeguard students.

“The legislature has work to do when we reconvene in January. First, we need to offer mental health resources to those who have been affected by today’s events. But then we need to act to prevent such tragedies from occurring again, and ultimately, we must pass laws that protect our children and our communities. As legislators, we have a responsibility to stop perpetuating the policies that enable violent offenders to have unfettered access to firearms and ammunition. In my last three years in Jefferson City, I have repeatedly offered legislation that would require vendors to obtain a license to sell ammunition, and it has never received a hearing. Common sense reform like this proposal — along with dozens of other gun safety bills filed and ignored every year — would see our state acting to protect people from the gun violence we have witnessed today.”

Rep. Rasheen Aldridge:

“I want to express my deepest sadness for the students, educators, school staff and loved ones enduring this tragedy and still experiencing the trauma of the violence they have witnessed and suffered. But I also to extend my thanks to the educators and staff at Central VPA for their work to ensure the safety of students in our community, and for the first responders — the police and paramedics — who acted quickly to save lives and prevent further tragedy from befalling our community.

“Our country has suffered far too many mass shootings, our students do not feel safe at school, and here in St. Louis, we know the impact of gun trauma all too well. The horror today illustrates the continued need for Jefferson City to act. We must pass laws that will prevent tragedies like today, not enable or exacerbate them. I know myself and several colleagues have offered solutions that have fallen on deaf ears in the past.

“In the coming legislative session, I plan to continue offering solutions and working across the aisle in a bipartisan manner so we do not have to endure days like today ever again.”