- The Washington Times - Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Three fathers of Parkland shooting victims will attend the State of the Union address Tuesday night as a message against gun violence and for school safety.

Manuel Oliver, who lost his son Joaquin Oliver, will join Florida Rep. Ted Deutch, who has called on President Trump to address gun control during his address.

“I wonder if Trump will address the real national emergency — the 40k gun deaths that take innocent lives like my son, Joaquin’s,” Mr. Oliver tweeted Monday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will bring Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime Guttenberg was among the 17 killed during the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“I am both honored and optimistic as gun safety will be front and center,” he wrote on Twitter. “Unfortunately, I cannot get over the reality of why I am doing this. I should be watching on a couch with my complete family, not sitting at The State Of The Union because of Jaime’s murder from gun violence, one of the 40,000 plus last year.”

Both Mr. Guttenberg and Mr. Oliver are vocal advocates for gun control legislation.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott, former Florida governor, announced that he would be bringing Andrew Pollack as his guest Tuesday night. He lost his daughter, Meadow Pollack, during the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

Unlike Mr. Guttenberg and Mr. Oliver, Mr. Pollack has focused less on the gun debate and focused on policies to improve school security.

Nikolas Cruz, a former student, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the mass shooting that left 17 dead and another 17 wounded.

• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.

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