The emotions being felt in South Florida after the Parkland school shooting are unfortunately ones that have been felt before in America.
FULL COVERAGE: Parkland school shooting | GALLERY - Sandy Hook victims
Nicole Hockley, the mother of a Sandy Hook victim says she knows exactly what the parents in Broward County are going through. She flew to Florida to speak with them in the wake of the tragedy.
Fear, anger and sadness. Those are the emotions Hockley is all too familiar with, and she relived some of those feelings following the news that a gunman killed 17 people at a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week.
“I cried real hard on Valentine's Day with the rest of our country, and then I got to work," said Hockley.
Work for Hockley means going to meet with people affected by tragedies similar to hers. Hockley’s son, Dylan, was one of 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012.
“I still go through moments of anger, sadness, denial and shock, even five year later, feelings should be honored and respected. It has to come out and everyone person’s going to be unique in the way that they do that,” said Hockley.
She never thought she would be out talking about these things, but it’s what she feels in her heart is right. Through her organization, she’s teaching people the signs of people at risk and how to take action.
“We’re having a lot of success in that in terms of preventing violence but not fast enough," Hockley.
She is hopeful that Florida may pass legislation after this week's tragedy. She’s not sure it will happen at the federal level since she is among the group of people who feels not enough is being done. Her hope is that grassroots movements will have a greater impact and chance of success.