17-year-old Florida shooting survivor begs Congress to stop gun violence: 'We are children. You guys are the adults.'

Parkland students Kelsey Friend and David Hogg.

(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

last updated 21 February 2018

A student who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in south Florida on Wednesday looked lawmakers in the eye and begged for action to prevent future attacks. "Please, this is the 18th one this year," 17-year-old David Hogg said on CNN on Thursday. "That's unacceptable. We are children. You guys are the adults."

Hogg added that "without action, ideas stay ideas and children die." He was then invited to look directly into the camera to address lawmakers.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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