Dr. John Lott has a brand new piece up at Actual Clear Politics.
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Being within the public eye brings many challenges, and the Pollack household is aware of this all too nicely. In 2018, they misplaced their daughter, Meadow, within the horrific taking pictures at Stoneman Douglas Excessive College in Parkland, Florida. This devastating occasion modified their lives endlessly, and so they devoted their lives to talking out for varsity security and dealing with legislation enforcement. However since then, Andrew Pollack and his son, Hunter, have confronted relentless harassment and threats.
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Whereas individuals will possible know Andrew from his frequent fights over college security, few notice the private value this combat has entailed.
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After shedding his daughter, Andrew Pollack moved to rural Oregon however continued to talk out on college security, articularly criticizing Obama administration insurance policies that prevented violent younger individuals from being arrested. These insurance policies prevented authorities from coping with the Parkland college assassin earlier than the assault regardless of quite a few warning indicators. His conservative views and doing issues corresponding to talking on the 2020 Republican Nationwide Conference angered his liberal neighbors who tried to silence him via authorized actions.
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First, with the help of a left-wing group, 1000 Buddies of Oregon, the neighbors fought a authorized dispute over their property line with Andrew. The neighbors filed dozens of complaints with authorities businesses, together with constructing inspectors, animal management, water management authorities, and the sheriff’s division, which concerned fixed visits from these authorities businesses.
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When these ways failed, the neighbors escalated their efforts by submitting an Excessive Danger Safety Order, often known as Crimson Flag legal guidelines, in opposition to Andrew. They disarmed him by claiming he was a hazard and making threats. Nevertheless, when Andrew lastly went to court docket, the choose dismissed the case with out even listening to his protection as a result of the neighbors failed to offer any proof that he had threatened anybody.
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Disarming Andrew additionally left him weak. Throughout this time, he encountered a mountain lion that was killing his goats outdoors his rural residence. His canine bravely fought off the mountain lion however suffered accidents that required stitches.
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Regardless of these losses in court docket, the neighbors didn’t cease. They introduced claims that resulted in 15 legal fees in opposition to Andrew, half asserting that he had been on their property although he was on the property they’d misplaced within the property line dispute. Once more, the court docket dismissed all of the complaints with out a trial because of a scarcity of proof. Nonetheless, Andrew needed to spend a major amount of cash on authorized protection charges. The neighbors confronted no penalties for making false claims.
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Now, Hunter Pollack is coping with his personal threats. In early February, every week earlier than the seventh anniversary of the Parkland college bloodbath, 27-year-old Bryan Sajous despatched Hunter pages of disturbing non-public messages on Instagram. Sajous had been sending Hunter unusual messages for a few years, utilizing completely different accounts, although that wasn’t clear till after his arrest and the sheriff’s division had examined his cellphone.
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However in February, the messages escalated into direct loss of life threats. A few of his chilling messages included: “I ship u to ur useless sister,” “u gonna die,” “Imma kill you,” and “I assure u of Nicolas didn’t shoot her id most likely kill her.”
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Though Sajous primarily focused Hunter, he additionally talked about Hunter’s father, Andrew, in his messages. Hunter spends important time together with his household, so any menace in opposition to him would possibly endanger them. That made the state of affairs much more alarming as a result of it threatened his whole household.
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Fortunately, the Broward County Sheriff acted shortly and arrested Sajous inside 5 hours of studying in regards to the threats. Authorities charged Sajous with aggravated stalking after an injunction for cover and intimidation for writing and sending loss of life threats.
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On the bond court docket listening to, Hunter spoke about his fears for his and his household’s security. “There have been a number of warnings about my sister’s killer the place nobody took motion, nobody thought he might perform such an act, and he did and he killed 17 individuals,” he stated. “And my household have been endlessly traumatized. … To be receiving threats and unsolicited messages from somebody who was going to kill me and put me with my sister could be very regarding. I really feel very threatened, and never solely do I would like to guard myself however it’s worthwhile to shield my household. … He lives in shut proximity to my household and I.”
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With the anniversary of Parkland approaching and Sajous saying he would have killed Hunter’s sister, Hunter frightened that the Feb. 14 anniversary would possibly function a set off for violence.
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Hunter’s lawyer, Eric Schwartzreich, requested the court docket to maintain Sajous in jail, saying, “It’s scary and regarding. Hunter is frightened not solely about himself but additionally about his father, his mom, and his entire household.”
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The court docket set Sajous’ bond at $1 million, with $500,000 for every cost. This excessive bond quantity reveals how severely the court docket takes the state of affairs.
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The Pollack household’s story highlights the continuing challenges they face as public figures who’ve already endured unimaginable loss. Regardless of the harassment and threats, they proceed to talk out for varsity security and justice.
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John Lott is the president of the Crime Prevention Analysis Heart, and he’s a longtime pal of the Pollacks. This text is predicated on conversations with Andrew and Hunter Pollack.
John R. Lott, Jr., “Household of Stoneman Douglas Sufferer Nonetheless Victimized,” Actual Clear Politics, February 22, 2025.
