The Violence Must Stop: Ban all Assault Weapons
On February 14, 2018, the Parkland school shooting occurred. That Friday, February 16th, I went to the Morristown office of Congressman Frelinghuysen where I knew that NJ 11th For Change would be protesting, as they usually do every Friday. I wanted to hear and see how they were feeling about this tragedy.
When I arrived, I saw a student standing in the street addressing the group. He bravely spoke about his fear that the same thing could happen at his school. After he spoke, a teacher addressed the group. She started to cry, saying that she knew that had this tragedy occurred in her class, she would have given her life to protect her students, just as she knew her own children’s teachers would have done.
Something changed in me, as it did for many of us, that week. The Parkland students crystalized the country’s raw emotions and created a movement. I knew then that I had to support these students. It is so important that we work together to send a clear message to prevent gun violence in America and protect all of our students.
The Parkland and other activist students are my heroes; their resolve and strength is an inspiration. We need to encourage them to continue to organize, speak out, march, and have their voices heard. I have been to every March for Our Lives event, rally, sanctioned student walkout, and town hall that I can participate in.
I pledge that if elected, I will support a federal ban on the ownership of assault weapons. I also will support more comprehensive and effective gun safety legislation, longer wait periods on gun purchases, universal background checks, and closing the gun show/boyfriend loopholes. I will act to repeal the conceal carry reciprocity law and the Dickey Amendment. I will not accept any contributions or endorsements from the NRA.
Elected officials need to put aside partisan politics. Federal common sense gun safety measures are supported by the majority of Americans. If Members of Congress cannot pass common sense gun safety laws, then we must vote them out of office and elect concerned, capable citizens, like myself, who will.
In years past, students in the Denver school district where the Columbine shooting took place have observed April 20th as a day to remember those lost in the shooting and those left behind. The students leading the March for Our Lives movement have proposed that today, April 20th, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, be a day of action. I call on all of my supporters to participate in marches, call your elected officials, and demand common sense gun control and gun safety laws. Make sure you are registered to vote, get your friends to register to vote, and speak out against gun violence. We cannot remain complacent. This will be a long-term fight but it is our moral obligation to do everything that we can to ban all assault weapons and enact gun safety laws.
