Josh Gad revealed on Twitter on Thursday that his friend’s son was one of the 17 victims of Wednesday’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“Last night, I received a text while I slept that our friend’s son passed away from his gun shot wound,” he wrote. “My grief for this family and the many others knows no bounds. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m so sorry our leaders are worthless. I’m so sorry we are bound to repeat this again.”
17 people were killed and at least 14 more were injured on Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Officials released the identities of the victims, including both students and faculty, on Thursday.
“I have said everything I care to say about the massacre in FL,” wrote Gad, a Florida native. “I have walked the halls of Stoneman Douglass [sic]. I directly know a person trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his life now. I call this community my own.”
In a Twitter thread, the “Frozen” star said he would take action to oust politicians backed by the National Rifle Association and those in Congress who vote against stricter gun control legislation.
“I am going to make sure that I read and educate myself as to why certain people refuse to do anything that resembles sensible gun laws and make sure they face early retirement,” he wrote. “I am going to be here as a voice of reason and walk proudly and tall through the echoing winds of madness as we continue to demand action in a familiar sea of inaction … I am going to remember the 17 dead, the many injured, and the thousands of others who have senselessly lost their lives to gun violence and I am going to fight in their name so that other parents and siblings never have to [experience] such trauma.”
Gad concluded his thread by calling on his followers to also take up the mantle: “That is what I’m going to do. The question is…what are you going to do?”
Last night, I received a text while I slept that our friend’s son passed away from his gun shot wound. My grief for this family and the many others knows no bounds. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m so sorry our leaders are worthless. I’m so sorry we are bound to repeat this again.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
1) Thread – I have said everything I care to say about the massacre in FL. I have walked the halls of Stoneman Douglass. I directly know a person trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his life now. I call this community my own.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
2) I think all of us know in our hearts something is terribly wrong with the weekly rate of these incidents. I will not lecture any of you on what to believe of how to respond. I will only tell you what I am going to do.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
3) I am going to make it my life’s goal to support and vote for every single person who challenges a politician with NRA money behind them.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
4) I am going to make sure that I read and educate myself as to why certain people refuse to do anything that resembles sensible gun laws and make sure they face early retirement.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
5) I am going to be here as a voice of reason and walk proudly and tall through the echoing winds of madness as we continue to demand action in a familiar sea of inaction.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
6) And finally I am going to remember the 17 dead, the many injured, and the thousands of others who have senselessly lost their lives to gun violence and I am going to fight in their name so that other parents and siblings never have to expiereince such trauma.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018
7) That is what I’m going to do. The question is…what are you going to do?
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 15, 2018