On March 14th 2018, students across America participated in a nationwide walkout that was both a memorial and protest against the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting that occurred a month previously on February 14th 2018.
The shooting marked the deadliest high school shooting in American history and has prompted many to press lawmakers to impose stricter gun control laws, which were among the demands of participants of the walkout. The gun control debate, previously thought to be impervious to most displays of protest, has quickly become a topic of worldwide debate since the horrific mass shooting and with this status, unlikely heroes have risen to the national limelight: the nation’s youth.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas students David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, along with their fellow survivors, have become synonymous with this tragedy and have used the media attention to advocate against gun violence, sparking a movement for stricter gun laws. Admittedly, my optimism for stricter gun control following the attack was dismal. With the lack of substantial reform in recent years despite the more than 1,500 mass shootings that have occurred since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook in 2012, I can’t help but feel defeated every time the NRA helps knock down a gun control bill.
In the weeks following the shooting, I found my previous notion to be slowly but surely contradicted by the movement in the US and now I’m hopeful for the future of America. I turned to some friends south of the border and reached out to ask them about it.
“Why do you think the reaction to the shooting at MSD has been different than the reaction to other school shootings that have occurred in recent years?”
“My best guess is because it was a sort of breaking point for the youth of America. Even if you put aside the horrifically large number of 17 killed, there was something about this scenario that enticed the shock and large scale reaction the country has been lacking for past shootings. The Stoneman Douglas shooting put a magnifying glass to the emotion of anger and frustration many of us have at the government for making almost no changes since Columbine in 1999.”
Rose G.
Still, some are quick to discredit youth and the movement to end gun violence. In a post compiled of letters penned by everyday Americans published by the San Diego Union Tribune, one reader wrote “While watching the nationwide student walkout, I had the feeling I was watching the disintegration of democracy in America. It seems we are teaching our children that creating chaos is the preferable way to express yourself and that even a minority can effect change if it makes enough noise.”
After I read this I was baffled. How could someone equate the empowerment of youth and the pursuit of safety to the disintegration of democracy? I read an article a few months ago titled “The Dying Art of Disagreement” and came to the realization that without disagreement, there is no room for the evolution of ideas and no room to question principles that threaten our freedom. America’s lack of gun control threatens that very freedom. Should the youth of America be expected to sit idly by while they entertain fears of being gunned down in an institution that is supposed to be safe? I don’t think so, and many youth share this exact same sentiment.
“At my school, the middle school students stood by us in protest and it made me cry. Twelve year olds protesting for their lives instead of being in class getting an education… No one should have to grow up in a world where this is necessary.” – Kyla R.
My friend Isadora G., along with her classmates, found themselves at the White House on March 14th as part of the national school walkout, which she described as an empowering experience. “We took up part of the road we were walking on and as we were walking, cars would honk at us in approval and [people would] wave out the windows of their cars giving us a thumbs up or a wave. This made me feel like I am on the right side of history, that I am doing the right thing. Everyone held up their carefully crafted signs and talked to each other encouragingly and all of a sudden my large school became a close knit family.”
“We have had enough. We are tired of seeing more and more children our age die in a place where they should feel safe.” – Rose G.
The national school walkout was organized by Women’s March Youth Empower and among their demands, participants wanted Congress to:
- Ban assault weapons.
- Require universal background checks before gun sales.
- Pass a gun violence restraining order law that would allow courts to disarm people who display warning signs of violent behavior.
These are perfect places for congress to start, which my friends agree with, but only time will tell if Congress will finally do the right thing.
“What should America specifically implement in order to end gun violence in America?”
“Increased gun control is key. Everyone has heard this before, but I will say it again. The Constitution was written in 18th century, where, yes, the Right to Bear Arms would have been reasonable and necessary. At that time, guns took several minutes to reload, and the thought that we have the same rules now as we did then is ridiculous, considering we have very advanced automatic guns. A much, much deeper background check is necessary, as well as more help/funding for people with mental illnesses, since they are the most likely to commit a shooting.” – Rose G.
“There should be much stricter background checks, as well as a ban on AR-15 style weapons. It it plain to see that these types of guns are way more than one person would ever need to defend themselves. Stricter background checks are important because of how easily people like Nikolas Cruz were able to buy these guns that were obviously not fit to have them based on their past or their history. Obviously these two things will not stop all possibility of mass shootings, but I believe it is a strong start and if it can save even one life, then it’s worth it.” – Isadora G.
But will all of this finally culminate in tangible reform or is America set in its ways? That’s a question that leaves me at a loss for words. I’d like to think yes, it’s possible, but examining history leaves me doubtful. I distinctly recall sitting through an 80 minute discussion about gun control in my AP Comparative Government class that left me exhausted and dismayed. The fact of the matter is that the second amendment has become so intertwined with America itself that its nearly impossible to generate any substantial reform in America pertaining to guns. However, if I’ve learned anything from Social Studies, it’s that real change doesn’t come to fruition by sitting idly waiting for change to occur. Change is only ever implemented by the people who demand it.
“Do you think any real change will come to fruition as a result of the global public outcry?”
“I think this has brought awareness, but as for things changing very soon, it is unlikely. Considering who holds office in America at the moment, it is hard for me to imagine a large change for the better occurring, but I hope for the best and that we begin to take the small steps.” – Rose G.
My comparative government teacher likes to remind us that we are living through a tumultuous time that our children will be reading about in their textbooks, and I always imagine an excerpt illustrating a triumphant movement spearheaded by teens who influenced stricter gun laws. Right now, it’s a work of non-fiction but in time I hope it becomes a work of fiction.
In conclusion, someone I know summed up America’s current situation very well: “Guns are math. It’s a problem but no one wants to solve it.” and for their sake and the sake of all those who have ever been affected by gun violence, I pray they solve it. Nobody deserves to fear for their lives whilst staring down the barrel of a gun. The world has spoken.
#EnoughIsEnough
Thank you to Rose G., Isadora G., and Kyla R. for sharing their views and experiences with me. Want more info on the March 14th walkout as well as future walkouts? Click here.
All Washington, DC walkout photos courtesy of Isadora G.
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