Nikolas Cruz — the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High mass shooter — doesn’t deserve a second chance … according to his victims’ families, who want him sentenced to death.

The fathers of 2 of Nikolas’ 17 victims tell TMZ … they’re not buying the courtroom apology Cruz offered Wednesday, and they say he shouldn’t get another shot as his trial looms.

Max Schachter, the father of 14-year-old victim Alex, says straight-up … Cruz “is a sadistic murderer and he deserves to die.” Max also says his plea for a second chance is “laughable” and believes he should get the death penalty.

Gina Montalto and Alex Schachter
Tony Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter Gina was among those gunned down, doesn’t accept Cruz’s apology either, saying … “If he wanted to do something for our families, he would’ve not killed our loved ones.”

The way Tony sees it … Cruz didn’t give his daughter a chance when he shot her 4 times, so why should he get a second chance at life???

As we reported … Nikolas changed his plea to guilty Wednesday and told the families of his victims he was sorry and he loved them, while begging for a second chance and making it clear he doesn’t want a death sentence.

Tony, who was in court to listen to Cruz, says the mea culpa was “ridiculous” and “painful” … and he wants Cruz prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as a way to deter future mass shootings.

Cruz is facing life in prison or the death penalty after pleading guilty to 34 counts — 17 premeditated murder and 17 attempted murder — and while he thinks it should be up to the families to decide his fate … it sounds like Cruz might not like their answer.