Parkland father's moment with Brett Kavanaugh goes viral

The father of a high school student killed in the Parkland, Fla., gun massacre approached Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at Tuesday’s confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., his hand outstretched.

White House counsel Don McGahn, second from right, watches as Fred Guttenberg, left, attempts to shake hands with President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)
White House counsel Don McGahn, second from right, watches as Fred Guttenberg, left, attempts to shake hands with President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)

Fred Guttenberg introduced himself as the father of Jaime Guttenberg, who was a 14-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when she was killed on Feb. 14.

Kavanaugh, who was caught off guard as he headed for a break in his testimony, turned and was led away without shaking the other man’s hand.

Shortly after the curt exchange, Guttenberg recounted the event in a tweet that within a few hours had 50,000 likes and 29,000 retweets.

While debate over Kavanaugh’s confirmation has been focused on his views on abortion and on the president’s immunity from criminal charges, the judge’s views on guns have also come under scrutiny.

A strong Second Amendment advocate, Kavanaugh has said he would overturn laws in Washington, D.C., such as the ban on semiautomatic firearms. The gunman in the shooting, which killed 17 and wounded 14, used an AR-15 assault rifle.

Like many conservative groups, the National Rifle Association has given its backing to Kavanaugh.

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