Jacob Martinez, the former chairman of the Arizona Teenage Republicans, announced he’s stepping down as the group’s leader until the GOP “takes action to prevent gun violence,” the Phoenix New Times reports.
"For those of you who will attack me because of this decision, let me remind you that I am not against the Second Amendment," Martinez told a group of reporters and activists during am event at the Arizona Capitol. "I am not against people owning guns. But I am against students being gunned down because we don't like to get together, work across the lines, and figure out these issues like human beings."
In his speech, Martinez—a former volunteer for Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign—said he was disappointed by Republican leadership’s response to the gun crisis in America.
"Instead of facing us, standing in the chamber, and listening to our message, they retreated to the member’s lounge," he said. “[Arizona House of Representatives] Speaker J.D. Mesnard denied the request for a 17-minute moment of silence even though there's nothing slated for a vote, and no real agenda for the day."
Martinez insists that while he’s no longer chairing the Arizona Teenage Republicans, he still considers himself a member of the party. He told the Times “Republicans and Democrats should be arguing over” fiscal responsibility, “not same-sex marriage and gun reform.”
"We shouldn’t reject [gun reform] because the Democrats propose it," Martinez said. "We need to work hard to enact positive change, and not do what Republicans are doing—which is shutting it out, because of the money.”
Martinez also argued that student activists aren’t “trying to take away people’s guns” or “infringe on their rights.”
"But we need safety reforms to keep the people of our country safe,” Martinez said. “If that means that the party disowns me, then so be it. But they’re missing out on the next generation if they do that.”
Martinez also told the New Times a video he posted to the Arizona Teenage Republicans Facebook page about plans to participate in the March For Our Lives, organized by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting last month, garnered a negative reaction from fellow Republicans.
"It ranged from people cussing me out, to telling me what a disappointment I am, to comparing me to Nikolas Cruz," he recalled. "It’s rough, it’s hard, but at the same time I know I’m doing something that I believe in."
