Linda Beigel Schulman joins protest outside Santos’ office decrying ‘National Gun of America’ legislation

Making the AR-15 a national gun is more of a priority to George Santos than saving the lives of our children and our loved ones.”

Linda Beigel Schulman

The sidewalk outside embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos’ Douglaston office in Queens was crowded with furious constituents who clutched signs demanding he “protect kids not guns.”

The mothers who protested from such groups as Moms Demand Action explained the harsh realities of gun violence to their children, who often feel anxious attending their schools. 

Wednesday’s protest comes on the backdrop of Santos' first 100 days in office, where he has supported 23 bills varying from harsher penalties for drug dealers and manufacturers to the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act. 

But one bill in particular has parents, teachers and others in Congressional District 3 worried — his commitment to supporting legislation to make the AR-15 the "National Gun of America."

Protestors were joined by speakers including Linda Beigel Schulman, whose son Scott Beigel was killed ushering students to safety during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 that claimed 17 lives. 

Standing in front of photos of her deceased son, Beigel Schulman asked protesters to look at the images to understand the impact the proposed gun legislation could have nationwide. 

"Making the AR-15 a national gun is more of a priority to George Santos than saving the lives of our children and our loved ones." Beigel Schulman said. "Everyone knows the AR-15 is a weapon of war. Every school shooting is carried out with an AR 15. Almost every mass murder is carried out with an AR-15."