It was just six days after 17 people were killed by a gunman wielding a semi-automatic rifle on school grounds on Valentine's Day.
Unlike the aftermath of most mass shootings in recent memory, the students demanded a broader policy conversation on gun laws, and they got it.
But the Republican-dominated Florida House shut down the conversation on assault weapons — namely a ban proposed by State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando — via a vote critics complain was conducted with barely any notice.
In fact, the vote came up so fast that the lawmaker representing Parkland, the city where the shooting happened, couldn't make it up to Tallahassee in time for the vote. He was attending the funeral for one of the victims, and said Democrats forced the vote, which would have required nearly twice as many votes as there are Democrats in the house to pass, knowing it would fail.
“The decision to make a procedural motion to bring HB 291, to the floor was brought up with zero notice. The majority of Democratic Members of our caucus were not aware that any motion would be made and several were not present on the floor,“ said State Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, ina written statement. "I was in my district attending Peter Wang’s funeral. Peter was a hero. He held the door open so other students could survive and it cost him his life. I know in my heart I was where I needed to be yesterday. Paying my respects to a hero."
Lawmakers from the Tampa Bay area voted along party lines.
Here's who voted against the ban (and, if known, what their current electoral aspirations are):
State Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, who's running for a Pinellas County Commission seat this year.
State Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, who's up for reelection with no Democratic challenger.
State Rep. Ben Albritton, R-Lakeland, who is running, thus far unopposed, for state senate.
State Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.
State Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, who is seeking reelection.
State Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Lutz, a likely candidate for governor.
State Rep. Julio Gonzales, R-Venice, who's thus far unopposed in his reelection bid.
State Rep. James Grant, R-Oldsmar, who faces a Republican primary as well as whichever Democrat wins the primary and a non-party candidate.
State Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who's being challenged by Democrat Liv Coleman.
State Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, who is running for reelection against Democrat Fentrice Driskell.
State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill (seeking reelection).
State Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Largo, who did sponsor a bill that would help keep guns out of the hands of individuals deemed at risk of hurting themselves or others (also seeking reelection, unopposed).
State Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-Treasure Island, a candidate for Pinellas County Commission.
State Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia (also seeking reelection, also unopposed).
State Rep. Ross Spano, R-Sarasota, a candidate in the Republican primary for attorney general.
State Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor (reelection).
State Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa (also seeking reelection).
And while we're at it, here are some of the Tampa Bay area representatives who voted for it:
(Again, these are the elected officials who supported having a discussion about a potential ban, and thus vote yes.)
State Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg (reelection).
State Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, who won her seat last week in a special election on the eve of the shooting, and is running to keep it this fall.
State Rep. Wengay Newton, D-St. Petersburg, who faces a Democratic primary for his so-called minority-access seat.
State Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa (running for attorney general).
Don't see your representative? Check out the list below, which State Rep. Amy Mercado, D-Orlando, tweeted out in the wake of the vote.
Don't know your representative? No worries. Click here to find out who they are, and check how they voted below.
House Speaker Corcoran has since said that legislation like the one he helped torpedo on Tuesday is still "on the table" for legislation in the works, and senate Democrats vow to push for such a discussion in their own chamber.
Leader Designate @kionnemcghee made a motion to bring Rep. Smith’s bill HB 219 Banning Assault Weapons from Committee to the House Floor for question, debate and vote… 71 members voted against having a conversation. pic.twitter.com/q9uUjYnEnO
— Amy Mercado (@AmyMercado) February 20, 2018
This article appears in Feb 15-22, 2018.