Sunrise, Florida -- A Florida student told a local TV station that CNN gave him a scripted question to ask during the network's town hall last night.
The student, Colton Haab, is a member of the Junior ROTC and shielded classmates during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week. He had planned to participate in the CNN town hall, which focused on the shooting and how to respond to it.
Haab wrote a speech and questions to prepare for the event, but told Local 10 in Miami that CNN wanted him to ask a scripted question instead. He ultimately decided not to participate, according to Local 10.
"I don't think that's going to get anything accomplished," he told the station. "I expected to be able to ask my questions and give my opinions."
Haab planned to focus his comments on school safety and had questions about potentially using veterans as armed security guards at schools.
CNN denied it provided any scripted questions. The network said in a statement that Haab's father pulled him from the town hall before the event began.
The statement also said Haab would be welcome on CNN to discuss his views.
The town hall was a tense affair. Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio faced heavy criticism from students and parents at the event over his support for Second Amendment rights.
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