John Oliver on Florida shooting: 'When the ‘not now’ argument came out, kids said ‘yes it f**king is''

'Those kids have already announced a march next month, and in doing so they’re challenging adults to participate in a real conversation about gun violence'

John Oliver‘s return to screens with the new season of Last Week Tonight began on a sombre note, addressing the “heartbreaking events” that took place in Parkland, Florida, last Wednesday.

17 students were shot dead after a 19-year-old gunman, armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style assault rifle, opened fire in the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “These events are now so familiar,” Oliver commented. “We basically automatically know how each side will play out.”

“But this time felt slightly different,” he continued. “Because when the ‘now’s not the time’ argument came out, the kids from that school said, ‘You know what? Yes it f*cking is.’” Survivors of the shooting have already announced that they will lead a nationwide demonstration to demand action on gun control.

“March For Our Lives” will take place on 24 March across the US. Survivor Cameron Kasky told ABC, “People are saying that it’s not time to talk about gun control. And we can respect that. Here’s a time. March 24th in every single city. We are going to be marching together as students begging for our lives.”

Fellow student Emma Gonzales made an impassioned speech at a gun control rally, stating: “They say that no laws could’ve been able to prevent the hundreds of senseless tragedies that have occurred. We call BS!”

“We call BS,” Oliver commented. “It is a little ironic that the people who are acting with the most maturity in this horrifying situation aren’t even old enough to say the word ‘bullsh*t’ in front of their parents. Those kids have already announced a march next month, and in doing so they’re challenging adults to participate in a real conversation about gun violence.”

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